Water purification tablets
Small tablets that disinfect water against bacteria and viruses when you can't boil it.
- Active ingredient
- Chlorine dioxide or NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate)
- Dose
- Typically 1 tablet per 1 litre (check the pack)
- Contact time
- 30 minutes; up to 4 hours for some parasites (see the pack)
- Pack size
- enough for about 30 litres or more
- Shelf life
- Typically 3–5 years in the sealed foil. Check the date printed on the pack.
Mysterymanblue, CC BY 4.0 · Photo credits
Purification tablets are the backup to the filter, and in some situations the better choice. They kill bacteria and viruses, including ones a filter can let through.
They are light, cheap and simple. One small strip can make many days of drinking water safe. You only need a clean container and some patience.
The tablets do not make dirty water clean. They disinfect it. Mud, oil or chemicals stay in the water. That is why you start with the clearest water you can find, or filter it first.
Why it’s in the kit
Boiling is the most reliable method, but it needs fuel, a pot and time. During a long outage you may not have any of those. Tablets work anywhere: in a shelter, in a car or on the road. Mainstream guidance, including from the WHO, accepts chemical disinfection as a household method when used correctly.
Storage & maintenance
Keep tablets in their sealed foil, in a cool, dry and dark place. Moisture and heat make them weaker. Do not cut the strip until you need a tablet. Replace the pack after the date printed on it.
How to use it
Start with the clearest water
Let cloudy water settle, or pour it through a cloth or the water filter first. Dirt makes tablets less effective.
Measure the water
Fill a clean container with the amount stated on the pack, usually 1 litre per tablet.
Add the tablet
Drop in the tablet and close the lid. Do not break it unless the instructions say so.
Wait the full time
Leave it for the contact time on the pack. Cold or dirty water may need longer.
Rinse the threads
Loosen the cap and tip the bottle so treated water washes the threads and rim. Then drink.
Video guides
Video guides are being prepared.
Manuals & downloads
Manuals will be available here soon.
