How Emergency Water Purification Tablets Work

Guaranteed access to clean water is not possible for most people around the world. Every human deserves clean drinking water, and with various methods available to neutralize pathogens possibly present in water, that’s certainly achievable.

For most consumers, a clean water source with the addition of an elaborate filtration system is ideal for killing hazardous organism traces. However, purifying water is less pragmatic during emergencies or while traveling, especially when it needs to be carried. This is when water purification tablets become a viable and convenient solution.

The realization that you’re out of bottled water is one of the most unanticipated adventure killers in the wilderness. Even if you find a stream or river, and the water looks clean, quenching your thirst may seem easy, but it can have devastating effects. Or your home might be hit by a hurricane, and everything is out of order — including drinking water.

o prevent water-borne illness from occurring, the students learned to add iodine tablets or bleach to purify the gathered water. — To prevent waterborne illness from occurring, these students learned to add iodine tablets or bleach to purify the gathered water. *U.S. Air Force*

Drinking water with pathogens can lead to various illnesses ranging from gastrointestinal symptoms to meningitis, hepatitis, and death. The U.S., for instance, experienced a water-associated disease breakout from 2013 through 2014, resulting in more than 1,000 illnesses and 13 deaths.

Water-purifying chemicals can treat pathogens and kill harmful bacteria, making the water safe to drink. These chemicals can be used following a natural disaster that affects the drinkable water supply or for people going camping, hiking, or traveling to remote areas. Such chemicals are available in tablets, liquid droplets, and packaged powder, all containing either iodine or chlorine.

Water Purification Steps

Water purification tablets are typically a combination of chlorine, iodine, and chlorine dioxide. When added to water, the compounds create a medium in which bacteria, protozoans, and viruses cannot thrive. In effect, they kill the microorganisms and render the water safe for drinking.

Common harmful contaminants that might cause serious health complications include Campylobacter jejuni and Giardia lamblia. For these tablets to work, however, there are certain things you should get right. The tablets’ efficacy depends on the chemical concentration of the active ingredient.

Water purification tablets kill microorganisms and make water gathered from a stream or creek safe to drink.

Depending on the water purification tablet, make sure to add the correct number of pills. This goes hand in hand with the manufacturer’s specifications. While small amounts might not kill the bacteria, excessive amounts might turn the water acidic.

Once added, shake the bottle thoroughly to break down the tablets comprehensively to mix with the water. The most recommended wait time after mixing with water is at least half an hour. That’s when you can be confident all bacteria, viruses, and parasitic protozoans are eliminated.

Note that some emergency water purification tablets leave behind an unpleasant taste. If iodine is its active component, you may need to carry along an iodine neutralizer. Chlorine-based water purifiers require you to leave the container uncovered to release the gases.

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Tablets Over Machines

water purification tablets — Anyone who is intimately familiar with the camping section of a sporting goods store knows these little bottles. They’re affordable, they’re everywhere, and they work.

Mechanical water filters are fantastic, but many people prefer using incredibly light water treatment solutions. Most tablets are good at correcting Ph levels, hardness, turbidity, and common pathogens.

Being on a trail out in the woods with dwindling water supplies might not feel like a significant danger, but it could be fatal. Because you don’t need to carry specialized equipment, water purification tablets are incredibly useful for emergency water treatment.

You never know when a disaster will occur, and you may need to drink any available water to survive. While international travelers carry these tablets for emergencies, it’s not recommended to routinely use them to purify water. Continuous use can build up the chemicals in your body to toxic levels, which is not healthy. Read and follow all instructions/warnings before using water purification products.

This content was originally posted by We Are The Mighty in September 2022.