Top 5 Water Purification Tablets 2020

The vast majority of people out there will have easy access to safe, clean drinking water, but for many who explore the wilderness or live in remote places, this can be a challenge.

Drinking contaminated water can easily cause serious health issues and knowing you have the tools to purify a water source will give you the peace of mind to go on that hike, explore new places and travel without worry.

Water purification tablets are a fantastic option to carry with you as they are small, lightweight and are efficient at purifying any source of water, whether you get it from a river, well or even tap water.

Contents

Our Top Picks
Best Water Purification Tablets of 2020
Water Purification Tablets that are worth mentioning:
Our top 5 Water Purification Tablets
Summary

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Best Value

Best Budget Friendly

Mightie Company Worlds #1 Water Purification Tablets

Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets

Potable Aqua Water Purification Treatment (50 Tablets)

253 Reviews

163 Reviews

3,824 Reviews

Check Price

Best Overall

Mightie Company Worlds #1 Water Purification Tablets

253 Reviews

Check Price

Best Value

Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets

163 Reviews

Check Price

Best Budget Friendly

Potable Aqua Water Purification Treatment (50 Tablets)

3,824 Reviews

Check Price

Best Water Purification Tablets of 2020

Best Choice

Runner-up

Also Good

Name

Mightie Company Worlds #1 Water Purification Tablets

Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets

Potable Aqua Water Purification Treatment (50 Tablets)

Our Rating

5/5

4.9/5

4.8/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

253 Reviews

163 Reviews

3,824 Reviews

Check Price

Best Choice

Name

Mightie Company Worlds #1 Water Purification Tablets

Our Rating

5/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

253 Reviews

Check Price

Runner-up

Name

Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets

Our Rating

4.9/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

163 Reviews

Check Price

Also Good

Name

Potable Aqua Water Purification Treatment (50 Tablets)

Our Rating

4.8/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

3,824 Reviews

Check Price

Water Purification Tablets that are worth mentioning:

Aquatabs AQT100 Water Purification Tablets (Pack of 100)

Aquamira - Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment Drops (Two Part Liquid), Chlorine Dioxide, Water Purifying Drops

Name

Aquatabs AQT100 Water Purification Tablets (Pack of 100)

Aquamira – Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment Two Part Liquid

Our Rating

4.7/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

1,118 Reviews

3 Reviews

Check Price

Name

Aquatabs AQT100 Water Purification Tablets (Pack of 100)

Our Rating

4.7/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

1,118 Reviews

Check Price

Name

Aquamira – Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment Two Part Liquid

Our Rating

4.7/5

Amazon Rating

Number Of Reviews

3 Reviews

Check Price

Our top 5 Water Purification Tablets

We have done the research, testing out the products and put together a list of our top 5 water purification tablets. Any one of these will offer you a fantastic, safe solution for your drinking water needs but each will have its own advantages, so think carefully about how you will be using them and in what environment.

1. Mightie Company Worlds #1 Water Purification Tablets

First on our list makes a bold claim of being the worlds number 1 water purification tablets, but the evidence seems to back that up! They have a great rating on Amazon, as well as a #1 Best Seller tag.

These tablets are effervescent, clean water in around 30 minutes and can kill microorganisms found in the water source. You will get 100 tablets in each pack that have a shelf life of 5 years and have been given an NSF 60 certification, as well as approval for use by the World Health Organisation.

The only real downsides we found with this product is that each tablet treats up to 0.75L of water, so it isn’t great for those who need a lot of drinking water. The packaging also gets wet pretty easily and so you need to be careful with storage and use so that you don’t spoil the tablets.

Pros	Cons
Fast acting with clean water ready in approx 30 minutes You get 100 tablets in each pack Long lasting as these can be stored for up to 5 years	The packaging isn’t the best and can get wet easily, causing damage to the tablets.

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2. Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets

Our next choice are the MP1 purification tablets from Katadyn, another recommended supplier who receives fantastic reviews from its customers. These tablets offer effective protection against many microorganisms, making water clean and safe to drink.

You have the option of buying this product in packs of 20 or 30 and as an added bonus, they can treat up to 1 litre of water, more than some of the other products out there. Katadyn have considered the taste of water after purification and these tablets won’t leave an unpleasant taste.

It is important to note here that the instructions were not the clearest, so we suggest making sure you understand how to use them prior to leaving for your trip. Furthermore, you will need to leave 4 hours for these tablets to be fully effective, so they are not for a quick drink when you need it.

Pros	Cons
Highly portable and easy to carry on hiking trips or camping. Effective treatment against harmful contaminants in the water Each tablet treats up to 1 litre of water.	A longer treatment time than other tablets, with it taking up to 4 hours to be fully effective.

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3. Potable Aqua Water Purification Treatment (50 Tablets)

We love these water purification tablets from Potable Aqua and it is pretty easy to see why. Firstly, they come in a handy little bottle containing 50 tablets, and each tablet only takes just over 30 minutes to make water safe to drink.

As well as making water bacteriologically suitable to drink, these tablets work against Giardia lamblia, so offer you an added layer of protection. They claim many emergency organisations and military units use these and we can see why.

It is important to note that these are not for regular use and for emergency situations and you need to use two tablets per litre of water. So you will only get 25 litres out of a single pack.

Pros	Cons
Each portion will treat up to 1 litre of water It is effective against Giardia Lamblia It only takes 35 minutes to clean the water.	You need to use two tablets per litre of water, so the pack of 50 will only treat 25 litres.

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4. Aquatabs AQT100 Water Purification Tablets (Pack of 100)

Many of you will have heard of Aquatabs, one of the leading manufacturers of water purification tablets for the past 20 years.

Each pack comes with 100 tablets and each tablet treats up to 0.75 litres of water. Easy to use and fast-acting, you only need to wait 30 minutes after mixing the tablet into the contaminated water and you will have clean, safe water to drink.

These tablets offer protection from cholera, dysentery and many other water-borne diseases, so you can trust that you will be drinking safe water. We should point out here that the only real downside is that they don’t offer cryptosporidium filtering, so depending on the water source, this may be an issue for you.

Pros	Cons
Each portion will treat up to 1 litre of water It is effective against Giardia Lamblia It only takes 35 minutes to clean the water.	You need to use two tablets per litre of water, so the pack of 50 will only treat 25 litres.

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5. Aquamira – Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment Two Part Liquid

The final option on our list differs slightly from the others – as it comes in the form of liquid drops and not tablets.

Using a chlorine dioxide-based formula, it is one of the most effective solutions on the market, with two parts to it that kill bacteria and improve the taste of potted water. Every kit you buy will treat up to 60 gallons of water, a fantastic return for such small containers.

We like the fact that this solution will also help prevent the build-up of slime, as well as killing bacteria, so it is a great solution for those with water storage tanks, such as camping or RVs. If you do choose this option, make sure you store them carefully, as the bottles can be damaged relatively easily.

Pros	Cons
You can treat up to 60 gallons of water with these packs. It removes harmful bacteria and also improves the taste of the water.	The packaging isn’t great and some have reported the bottles getting damaged.

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Summary

We hope you have found this article both interesting and informative, guiding you to the best water purification tablet solution for your needs. Each product offers the fundamentals you expect but there are important differences that you should be aware of.

Safe, clean water is so important and should never be underestimated, so take advantage of these portable, effective water purification tablets now, whether travelling or supporting those in areas that don’t have a reliable source of water.

When you would need them

The portable and inexpensive nature of water purification tablets means they can be carried by anyone who wants to be prepared. However, there are some key situations when it would be advisable to have them with you, including:

People travelling through the country with minimal baggage

Most people who work in the countryside or travel, don’t want to carry a lot of baggage and will simply travel on foot with the essentials. Having a pack of water purification tablets are a fantastic solution and one that many rely upon.

Disaster recovery

Whether there has been a natural or man-made disaster, it is likely that there will be issues with water supplies. The supplies could be contaminated for any number of reasons and it is vital that you get a clean, healthy water supply to those that need it.

Military

It is common for most military units, peacekeeping missions and aid missions to carry these tablets with them in case they are stranded in remote locations or they need to help with a local communities water supply.

Remote and developing locations

There are many communities, in both developed and developing nations that haven’t got water treatment facilities or modern infrastructure. Using water purification tablets allows those communities to get the water they need without the risk of disease and illness, or stop them having to travel long distances to find a clean water source.

Types of water purification tablet

Water purification tablets will generally contain either chlorine, iodine or chlorine dioxide as their main chemical ingredient. The first two are very effective against Giardia lamblia, whereas chlorine dioxide is an effective solution against bacteria, viruses and cryptosporidium.

Here is a brief breakdown of the differences:

Chlorine Tablets

This type of water purification tablet contains chlorine, the chemical commonly used in water purification and whilst they are effective, you may find that it leaves an after taste in the water. Furthermore, it is important to note that once the water is treated, there is the potential for it to get recontaminated if left for too long.

Iodine Tablets

A different option for you here and one that is generally viewed as a better option for warmer water. It will still be effective in cooler water and it does also suffer from an aftertaste, but this can be counteracted by using vitamin C once you have finished purifying the water.

Chlorine Dioxide Tablets

The most efficient type of water purification tablet on our list as chlorine dioxide-based tablets will get rid of countless microorganisms, viruses, bacteria etc. The only real downside of using this type is that it will take longer to purify the water, sometimes up to four hours and so not great in emergency situations.

The benefits

There are some very obvious benefits to carrying and using water purification tablets, especially if you are travelling in the wilderness or visiting less developed parts of the world. It is important to remember that almost all of the world’s water isn’t safe to drink without some form of purification first.

Removes harmful contents

The number one reason to use water purification tablets is that it removes the dangerous and harmful bacteria and viruses found in water, such as cholera and dysentery. The chemicals used in these tablets are chosen because of their proficiency in removing pathogens, viruses etc.

Easy to use

These are one of the most simple forms of water purification you can get, as you simply need a tablet and the water in some kind of container. Throw in the fact that some of the tablets will work in as little as 30 minutes, then you have a quick and easy source of safe, clean drinking water.

Easy to carry

We believe this is one of the biggest selling points for water purification tablets, as you can fit them in your pocket, your rucksack or any other container you are carrying. Gone is the need for heavy, cumbersome equipment that is a hassle to carry. You will be able to move quickly and carry only the essentials.

Emergency solution

These are a fantastic solution for those working in emergency situations, such as those working in disaster zones trying to rescue people or provide aid. Above all else, you need to make sure people have a safe source of drinking water and these little tablets will do that for you.

Key features

There are some key features to look out for when reviewing and purchasing water purification tablets and these include:

Ingredients

Make sure you look at the ingredients, including the main chemical component, so that you understand what you are putting in the water, what it protects against and how effective it will be. Each of the three main chemicals offers different benefits and we have provided a brief overview at the top of this page to help you make an informed decision.

Purification time

Water purification tablets take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 4 hours to work effectively, so you need to make sure you choose the right one. If you’re in a rush or an emergency, you won’t want to wait 4 hours but if you plan ahead, these can be a more effective and safe solution.

Quantity

Think about how many tablets come in each pack and how much water they purify. You may be on a long journey and you don’t want to suddenly run out halfway through. Equally, if a tablet doesn’t purify enough water, then they won’t help you get everyone clean water that needs it.

Intended Use

All tablets will fundamentally do the same thing – purify water, but each one will be intended for a certain type of use. This may be for those walking or hiking in the wilderness, working for military or aid missions, or wanting tablets for an emergency. This is important to think about because some of the tablets are not designed for continuous use and you should always follow the guidance on the packets.