[niick]

I've been looking into water purification tablets as an emergency back up method for making water safe to drink. And it seems to me that there are 3 types of water purification tablets: Iodine, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide.

And it sounds like from my research that the iodine are the worst. They taste the worst, some people are allergic to them, and they're not as effective against cryptosporidium and giardia.

Chlorine dioxide seem to be the best. They're more effective than iodine and chlorine against cryptosporidium and giardia, and they don't taste as bad. I think they kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses also.

But there are a bunch of different brands that have chlorine dioxide water purification tablets. I'm just wondering how they stack up against each other. Is there a brand that is more effective and kills the most nasties in the water? Has anybody researched that?

 

[niick]

Maybe what I should have asked was - what all do we need to kill in our water?
1. Bacteria
2. viruses
3. protozoa (I think things like cryptosporidium and giardia fall into that category).

Is there anything else or is that the only 3 categories of things we need to kill? Because if that's the case I can just focus on the brands that kill 99.9% of all three of those.

 

[niick]

My bad, looks like there are these categories also:

4. bacterial spores
5. cysts
6. algae
7. fungi

Shesh, this is getting complicated. How do you compare the different brands if they don't all tell everything they're effective against?

 

[40cal]

I don't bring any of the above while out in the wilderness, I use a Sawyer Mini filter which removes all of the above. I then attach an activated charcoal component downstream of that which takes out chemicals and makes the taste much better.

However, at home, I would recommend you take a look at calcium hypochlorite. It's powdered bleach, essentially. It will kill everything and is cheaper than the tablets.

 

[niick]

Yeah, I wouldn't use tablets either if I had time to use a better method like filtering and boiling, or distilling. I'm thinking of the tablets as more of a back up method if say you're on the go or something and you don't have time to stop and distill water, make a filter, or start a fire for boiling.

Of course it's always good to come prepared with a Sawyer Mini Filter or whatever, but that's only good if you have it with you and it's working properly. What if it got damaged, used up, or stolen? Always good to have back up options.

 

[TomArnold]

Remember that whatever chemical method you use, make sure to follow the directions. They aren't an instant process. The water needs to be exposed the chemical for a certain minimum length of time to be effective. None of the chemicals result in good tasting water, just safe water. Something else (aeration, carbon filter, etc) needs to be done to improve taste.

 

[niick]

I know it's not an instant process, but it only takes a second to drop a pill into your water bottle. If your on the go or on the run, I don't think there's a better method. It might take 30 or so minutes to do its thing, but it can be doing that while you're on the move. Just drop a tablet in and go. Might have to shake it for a minute. Taste might be important, but I would think it would become a little less important in an emergency when you're desperate to re-hydrate and in too big of a hurry to worry about it.

 

[stuckinVa]

Aqua mira tablets or drops are a good backup/secondary. A lot of people use the drops as primary while thru hiking often too.

 

[almac]

I prefer something called 'polar pure' but sadly it is getting harder and harder to find.
while not infinite, the crystals in the jar last MUCH longer than any tablet will.

 

[Blackbear9]

Did some research on the calcium hypochlorite and it appears a 1 pound bag in granular form will treat up to 10,000 gallons of drinking water which is enough for a family of four for some six or seven years at a gallon per day per person.

Calcium Hypochlorite is widely available for use as swimming pool chlorine tablets or white powder and is often known as “pool shock”.

After following the instructions; it destroys disease causing organisms such as bacteria, yeast, fungus, spores, and viruses.

Hope this helped.

 

[tom42]

sodium dichloro-isocyanurate?("Oasis" water purification tablets)

What about "Oasis" water purification tablets, which contain sodium dichloro-isocyanurate?
Are they any good?

 

[gulfprepper]

In my Bugout Bag I carry not only a LifeStraw but a small container of Calcium Hypochlorite. For those of you unfamiliar with Calcium Hypochlorite, it is the main ingredient in "Pool Shock". It is very powerful, has a shelf life of about one million years, and one pound will purify over 50,000 gallons of water. It is so powerful that just a pinch will purify a gallon of water. It only takes about 15 to 20 granules (smaller than the size of a grain of salt) will purify a canteen-full (a quart) of the worst water. One teaspoon added to a gallon of water will actually produce a full gallon of 5% household bleach. A small pill bottle of Calcium Hypochlorite is a lot easier to carry around than a gallon of bleach and it will last a lot longer.

The pool shock has to be pure Calcium Hypochlorite (no algaecide, water clarifiers, or other additives) and it must be in high-concentration, known as "Super Shock" (at least 78% pure Calcium Hypochlorite). You can find it on the Web. Just be sure it is high concentration and contains nothing other than Calcium Hypochlorite and inert ingredients. It is more effective than any of the tablets and who hasn't swallowed pool water in their life?

BTW, the correct concentration of Chlorine in drinking water is 5 PPM. You can even get test strips to measure the Chlorine content.

 

[NSA Surveillance]

Here in the Deep South (Florida), everyone I know uses a ceramic filter such as Sawyer. By the time a tablet dissolves and purifies a canteen down here, the water has reached a temperature that isn't pleasant to drink while you are already battling dehydration. On the other hand, instantly filtering some cold spring fed water with a ceramic filter allows you to quickly rehydrate in a more pleasurable manner (cold). Iodine is for the birds. Ain't nobody got no time for that nastiness.

 

[StabyhounDogs]

I inspected water systems for over 18 years and the tablets are only good as a last resort. Yes they will kill bacteria, virus, and protozoa but it won't do much with the protozoa oocyst (like Cryptosporidium parvum) that are the dormant reproductive structure that will make you sick or kill. They have a hard outer shell that keeps chemicals from killing them. The best bet is boiling or the ceramic filter that say it is good to 3 microns.

 

[Henre' Neville]

Water fit to drink!

After hundreds of miles of back country hiking, and relying on indigenous water, I have to say that Iodine purification is barely surviving. It tastes nasty, upsets stomachs....

I really recommend a ceramic filter, as fine as you can afford. Katadyne is the only brand that comes to mind, but I have used three or four. The water is fresh tasting as bottled. And I have NEVER gotten sick from the water.

Crossing Whitney for a week, I started off determined to use what I brought, Iodine. My buddy had a Katadyne, which he offered profusely. I was not to be swayed.

Until I drank about half an ounce of the Iodine water, then tasted his. I became a true convert.

 

[justanothergunnut]

I inspected water systems for over 18 years and the tablets are only good as a last resort. Yes they will kill bacteria, virus, and protozoa but it won't do much with the protozoa oocyst (like Cryptosporidium parvum) that are the dormant reproductive structure that will make you sick or kill. They have a hard outer shell that keeps chemicals from killing them. The best bet is boiling or the ceramic filter that say it is good to 3 microns.

THIS EXACTLY... Crytpsporidium is the biggest threat and bleach or pool shock or Calsium Hypochlorite WILL NOT KILL IT... Chlorine Dioxide does have a much better effective record however physical filtration and boiling are still superior.. If you are relying on pool shock or household bleach you are going to be in for a rather unpleasant shock.. Maybe even deadly.... This little tidbit of "prepper" wisdom known as pool shock is yet one more example of bad information on the net..

 

[Giver of Doom]

Why would anyone want to drink nasty water. I've used this water filter for about 8 years without any problems what so ever. One of the best on the market, if not the best.

 

[WoodyChuck]

I have a Sawyer Mini with a 0.1 micron filter. It's rated for up to 100,000 gallons. It's small, light and easy to use. I also have a Sweetwater for when I'm with a larger group. Katadyn also makes a great product that will fit the bill. At the minimum get a Lifestraw those are 0.2 micron filters good for about 1000 liters.

Filtering the water takes only slightly longer than dipping a bottle in the stream and dropping in some tabs. Also, the water is drinkable immediately. I keep tablets in my pack only as a last resort.

 

[mark47201]

I have used Polar Pur for many gallons and have not had any problems. 1 bottle will probably last my lifetime, but you have to follow the directions as with any type of purification process you choose.

 

[justanothergunnut]

Polarpure is iodine based and will not kill Cryptosporidium. Past success does not indicate future success. I know of people who would routinely drink straight from streams claiming .. I've done it dozens of times and NEVER gotten sick.. Until they did.. Use what you want, believe what you want but if the system has collapsed and medical care is non existent it's a hell of a time to find out you were wrong.. It just may cost you your life......