FAQ
Here we have answered all the most common questions related to Aquatabs. If you do not find an answer here, feel free to reach out to us and we will do our best to help.
AQUATABS are effervescent tablets which kill microorganisms in water to prevent water borne diseases leading to a 99.9999% reduction in bacteria, a 99.99% reduction in viruses and a 99.9% reduction in Cysts (Giardia) within 30 minutes, when used in non-turbid (dirty) water.
Please see the chart for dosing. However, the dosage amount may vary depending on water clarity. Turbid water may require filtration and result in a lower treated amount per tablet.
Once the water is safe to drink, it no longer requires disinfecting. When used in an open container the water should be treated daily. In a closed container, it is safe for a minimum of 5 days. The reason for this difference is that the chlorine slowly evaporates out of the water and will evaporate more quickly in an open container.
Yes. The expiration date depends on the product and ranges from two to five years from date of manufacture. The expiration date is listed on every product. We also make sure that the listings on this website state the current expiration of our in-stock product.
Each Aquatab contains a measured dose of sodium dichloroisocyanurate, commonly referred to as NaDCC. When added to water, Aquatabs dissolve to release a measured dose of hypochlorous acid (free available chlorine) that is universally recognized as a safe and effective water disinfectant. Aquatabs are one of the few water purification tablets on the market today which are certified to NSF / ANSI Standard 60. Its active ingredient, NaDCC (ACL60 grade), is also US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved. Aquatabs also conform to WHO Specification (The New Emergency Health Kit 98), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement specification (Code: Type 21.1), UNICEF specification (Codes: S 1588350 / S 158355 / S 0003245) and NATO Stock Number (NSN) 6850-99-225-1833).
No, it has no iodine whatsoever. It is sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NADCC) based.
Yes, 30 minutes at the minimum.
Tablets dissolve faster in warm water, but are not meant for use with water warmer than lukewarm.
Yes. It kills water borne diseases.
Yes, the 8.5mg are in water-proof foil packets, while the larger sizes come in resealable tubs.
Aquatabs come in various sizes. Please see the chart below for proper dosing.
Over 25 years.
We do not recommend using the product after the expiration date. It will not do any harm to you, but there is no guarantee that it will make the water safe.
Yes. You can safely consume water treated by Aquatabs within the normal dosage levels.
Drink plenty of milk or water. Although Aquatabs have low toxicity, as ever with these matters you should always seek medical advice at your earliest opportunity.
Bringing water to a rolling boil will kill most microorganisms and make it safe to drink without Aquatabs – and adding Aquatabs after boiling water will not reduce its effectiveness. However, Aquatabs prevent the task and hassle of boiling water and are a reliable alternative purification source when a heat source is unavailable. In addition, the fuel needed to bring water to a boil may cost more than Aquatabs. Something to remember, cooled boiled water has no residual disinfectant and can be easily recontaminated, while water treated with Aquatabs will stay safe for a minimum of three days.
No, unlike other water purification treatments such as iodine or chlorine dioxide, Aquatabs will not color the water or leave an unpalatable taste. NaDCC works very differently from traditional chlorine, and as such, it is very difficult to taste any chlorine. In fact, there is usually less of a chlorine taste in water treated with Aquatabs than there is in any municipal tap water.
Aquatabs are produced to pharmaceutical standards by an ISO 9001/2000 quality-assured company.
Yes, Aquatabs are safe to handle and unlike other water purification treatments such as iodine or chlorine dioxide, do not require gloves or protective eyewear to use. In fact, you can safely dissolve an Aquatabs tablet right in the palm of your hand.
The more sediment and/or organic matter within the water to be treated, the more chances that bacteria, viruses and cysts will be able to “hide” from the chlorine disinfectant. As excessive amounts of disinfectant react with the sediment and/or organic matter, there may not be enough disinfectant to inactivate important contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. All water to be treated with Aquatabs should be clear of turbidity and color or staining. Generally, filtering suspect water through a t-shirt or coffee filter is more than sufficient.
Aquatabs are effective against Giardia when used as directed but have not been proven effective against Cryptosporidium when it is in the oocyst stage of its life cycle. Cryptosporidium is however not considered to be a common cyst. If Cryptosporidium is suspected, boil the water for 1 to 3 minutes depending on elevation or filter to a level of 1 micron absolute and then treat with Aquatabs to inactivate remaining bacteria and viruses that filtration does not generally remove.
