Every person deserves access to clean and sanitized water at all times. Well, when you are not at home, it becomes difficult to ensure water quality.
However, the best water purification tablets can definitely help cut down some potential risks of consuming bad water.
These tablets are categorized into three prime types, including chlorine-based, iodine-based, or chlorine-dioxide based.
The best thing is that these tablets help purify water coming from all kinds of sources. That is why these are handy things to take along as you travel.
This review will walk you through different products that are ruling the market. Also, we will help in establishing a search foundation with our helpful buying guide.
In this post:
Best Water Purification Tablets Buying Guide
1. Main Types of Water Purification Tablets
There are three prime types in water purification tablets.
– Chlorine-Dioxide Tablets
The chlorine dioxide ones are the best water filtration tablets with an ability to kill a wide range of pathogens like parasites, viruses, and bacteria.
These tablets do not change water’s taste and have fewer side effects than chlorine-based or iodine-based tablets.
While these tablets are very effective against cryptosporidium and giardia, they need at least 4-hours to completely purify the water.
The filtration is done through an oxidation process where the chemical penetrates the microorganism’s cell and destroy it.
Furthermore, chlorine-dioxide tablets have higher shelf value. They can stay useful for 4-years after manufacturing. The drawback is that these tablets are a bit expensive than its counterparts. However, it is worth every penny spent.
The Katadyn 8014996 has high efficiency in killing cryptosporidium and giardia membrane and purify the water to the earnest.
– Chlorine-Based
The chlorine-based tablets use the chlorination process to purify water. These effectively remove viruses and bacteria. These first attacks the bacteria’s cell membrane and disrupt its respiration and DNA activity.
However, it hasn’t proved its work in eliminating cryptosporidium due to the protective shell on its membrane. It takes almost 30-minutes to dissolve in the water and filter it. The shelf life is 5-years.
You might find the water to adopt a bleach-like smell after using a chlorine tablet. However, it can be removed by keeping the container open for some time.
The Aquatabs AQT100 has great performance in cleansing the water and removal of viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
– Iodine-Based
Iodine water purification tablets are effective in removing microorganisms like viruses, parasites, and bacteria from water. It takes 30-minutes to work after setting in the water.
For iodine to work, the water temperature also has a large contribution. The cooler water takes longer to purify than warm water.
Also, if the water is cloudy, you might have to add more iodine to it. If there are visible particles, then you must remove them before adding iodine tablets to them. The shelf-life of these tablets is 7-years.
On the downside, these tablets will make water taste a bit salty. Also, it might have some side effects like nausea and headache. Therefore, you must consult a physician for possible allergies before picking iodine tablets over a counter.
The Potable Aqua 301 is the best iodine water purification tablets with no side-effects and high efficiency.
Our Tip: The chlorine-dioxide has the best performance among all as it can effectively eradicate cryptosporidium virus, unlike any other water purification tablet.
2. Intend Use
Your purchase should be around the intended use of the tablets. Technically, these are used for emergency purposes.
Most buyers don’t intend to use these tablets on a routine basis.
However, if you are traveling or hiking, these can be your affordable and handy solution for water purification.
3. Time to Purify
How long a tablet takes to purify water makes a lot of difference. If you are hiking and have took water in your bottle from the nearby lake, you wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time for the chemical to work so that you can finally quench your thirst. Therefore, focus on the time a tablet takes to purify water.
4. Shelf-Life
The next thing to consider in your purchase is the shelf-life. It can be between 3 – 8 years. You need to pick one that can serve you for the longest time. However, quality is the priority, and it should be considered as such.
The tablets wrapped individually have more shelf life as they are not exposed to air unless they are unwrapped. A wrapped medicine will have 3 times more life than bottled tablets.
5. Dosage
The dosage is mentioned on the tablet’s cover. Most manufacturers will ask for using more than 1 tablet for efficiently purifying 1-liter water.
7 Best Water Purification Tablets of 2024 Reviewed
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Potable Aqua 3092 (Best Overall) |
|
 | 2. Aquatabs 30 (Best Inexpensive) |
|
 | 3. Katadyn 8014996 (Best Chlorine-Dioxide) |
|
 | 4. Aquatabs AQT100 (Best Chlorine) |
|
 | 5. Potable Aqua 301 (Best Iodine) |
|
 | 6. Potable Aqua 304 (Best Combination) |
|
 | 7. Rothco Chlor-Floc (Standard) |
|
1. Best Overall: Potable Aqua 3092
Photo: Potable Aqua
- Ingredients: Chlorine-Dioxide
- Package: 20 Tablets per Pack
The Potable Aqua 3092 is the best overall product for its 2.6 times more chlorine oxidation capacity than any chlorine-dioxide, chlorine, or iodine tablet. It is highly reliable in killing all kinds of parasites and viruses, including cryptosporidium.
The tablets can be used for various purposes like camping, hiking, traveling, or emergency use. It makes the water fresh without impacting its taste at all.
Also, these tablets meet EPA microbiological water purifier test standards. This means that the tablets will not have any side-effects on your health.
A single tablet can treat up to 20-quartz of water. This is one of the best water treatment tablets on the market. However, the quantity could have been better.
Pros:
- High chlorine oxidation capacity
- Reliable purification
- Comes with no side effects
- Does not impact water taste
Cons:
- Quantity could have been better
2. Best Inexpensive: Aquatabs 30
Photo: Aquatabs
- Ingredients: Chlorine
- Package: 30 Tablets per Pack
The Aquatabs 30 will keep it low on your wallet as this is the most inexpensive product on the list. The chlorine tablets are highly effective in killing 99.99% of bacteria and help to prevent water-borne diseases.
It readily mixes in the water and takes 30-minutes to purify it. These tablets are used worldwide by NGOs, Military, Philanthropists, and government. It is highly recommended for hiking, camping, and emergency purpose.
Another great thing about this product is its massive shelf-life of 5-years. Also, the tablets are individually packed, which restricts its air exposure. This way, the tablets remain highly effective throughout their life. On the downside, the water smells of chlorine.
Pros:
- Most affordable product
- Prevent water-borne diseases
- Used by government agencies
- Large shelf life
Cons:
- Cause chlorine smell in water
3. Best Chlorine-Dioxide: Katadyn 8014996
Photo: Katadyn
- Ingredients: Chlorine-Dioxide
- Package: 20 Tablets per Pack
The Katadyn 8014996 are highly responsive chlorine-dioxide tablets, ensuring complete safety of the user. These tablets have no side-effects at all, as they are EPA registered as a microbiological water purifier.
The greatest thing is that these tablets are premeasured. Each tablet has a tendency to purify 1-liter water. You won’t have to go through the hit and trial method to ensure if the water is completely filtered or not.
For most water types, the tablets take 30-minutes for complete purification. However, for cold and dirty water, it takes around 4-hours.
These are wrapped in waterproof strip packing. Since these are individually packed, you can expect each tablet to perform earnestly. You just have to open the pack, put the tablet in the water, and wait for 30-minutes for filtration.
With everything else so great, the small quantity of this product might disappoint some buyers.
Pros:
- Extremely safe
- Premeasured
- Waterproof strip packing
- Highly effective
Cons:
- Small quantity
4. Best Chlorine: Aquatabs AQT100
Photo: Aquatabs
- Ingredients: Chlorine
- Package: 100 Tablets per Pack
The Aquatabs AQT100 makes it to the best chlorine tablets for drinking water with its tendency to treat raw or pre-treated water. The tablets chlorinate water and kill all kinds of viruses and bacteria, keeping its taste intact and pure.
Interestingly, this product can prevent water-borne bacteria causing diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, etc. You can collect the water from rain, river, lakes, well, or anywhere else and purify it completely.
Another greatest thing about this product is its large quantity of 100 tables, separately packed in waterproof strips. Each tablet remains fresh and effective until you use it. The usage is also extremely simple.
The pack comes with a large shelf life of 5-years. It takes 30-minutes to dissolve in the water and makes it ready to drink.
This is a value pack for all those who travel a lot. However, you should ensure not to inhale or swallow it; otherwise, it will cause respiratory issues.
Pros:
- Suitable for all kind of water
- Available in large quantity
- Easy to use
- Waterproof strip packing
Cons:
- Might cause respiratory issue if swallowed or inhaled
5. Best Iodine: Potable Aqua 301
Photo: Potable Aqua
- Ingredients: Iodine
- Package: 50 Tablets per Pack
If you are leaning towards iodine-based water purification tablets, the Potable Aqua 301 is the most suitable option. It is a high-quality product with a tendency to remove all kinds of viruses and parasites from water.
It has 35-minutes of treatment time. The bottle contains 50-tablets, and it requires 2-tablets to purify 1-liter water. The whole pack will be able to treat 25-liters of water.
The product is suitable for camping, hiking, travel, and natural disaster. It is used by military and emergency organizations worldwide.
The downside is that the water becomes a bit cloudy using these tablets. Also, the glass bottle is high on maintenance. It can break on a single fall.
Pros:
- Remove all kinds of viruses and parasites
- Small treatment time
- Used by emergency organizations
Cons:
- Makes water a bit cloudy
- Fragile bottle
6. Best Combination: Potable Aqua 304
Photo: Potable Aqua
- Ingredients: Iodine
- Package: 100 Tablets per Pack
The Potable Aqua 304 comes in a pack of 2 bottles. It has an iodine-based water purification tablets pack and PA+Plus neutralizing tablets to remove iodine taste and odor from the water. This is the best combination pack on the list that effectively purifies and makes water drinkable.
There are 50 tablets each in a bottle, with a tendency to purify 25-liter water. You can pick water from any source and rest assured as the tablets will do an excellent job in purifying it.
The pack is effective against giardia. However, you won’t be able to filter cryptosporidium. It can be used for camping, hiking, and traveling.
Pros:
- 2 bottles of water purification tablets and neutralizers
- Remove iodine taste and odor
- Suitable for camping, hiking, and traveling
Cons:
- Do not filter cryptosporidium
7. Standard: Rothco Chlor-Floc
Photo: Rothco
- Package: 30 Tablets per Pack
These are standard water purification tablets with the tendency to eliminate giardia, viruses, and bacteria from water. The tablets are pretty effective and used by the military.
You can pick water from any source. However, it is advised to remove solid dirt and grim for the best results. The chemical effectively mixes in the water and get rid of bad taste.
You get 30 tablets in a pack, and the usage will depend on water quality and temperature. If you are using it in cold water, make sure to put 2 tablets inside. It will take around 30-minutes for the treatment.
However, they leave a strange odor in the water that might agitate some users.
Pros:
- Very efficient
- Small treatment time
- Remove bad taste
Cons:
- Might leave a strange odor
Conclusion
We conclude the water purification review with the finest products on the market. We believe that by now, you will be able to nail-down the choicest product that satisfies your intended use.
If you want an uncompromised option, go with the best overall product, the Potable Aqua 3092, with 2.6 times chlorine oxidation capacity.
The Potable Aqua 304 is the best combination product that kills bacteria and removes iodine-taste from the water effectively.