Aquatabs 49mg (100) review

What it is and who it suits

Aquatabs 49mg tablets come from Aquatabs and are sold in strips, in 30, 50 and 100 counts. The active ingredient is NaDCC, a form of chlorine. Aquatabs' US page says one tablet treats up to 2 liters of suspect water, and gives a half-gallon as the typical dose. That is a bottle-sized dose, which suits a go-bag, a car kit or a travel bag.

This review is researched, not tested. It relies on Aquatabs' US product and how-to pages, and on CDC and Ready.gov guidance for treating water. The maker's page showed this product as out of stock on the day we checked, so confirm a 100-count pack is available before you plan around it.

How to use them

Aquatabs says to use the tablets with fresh water above 40°F (4°C). If the water is cloudy or has sediment, filter it through a clean cloth first. Add one tablet, stir or shake until it dissolves, and wait 30 minutes. Aquatabs warns that drinking before the 30 minutes are up may leave you at risk. CDC gives the same cloth-filter step for cloudy water in its boiling and bleach instructions, and tells users to follow the label or package of any disinfecting tablets, since each is made for a specific volume of water.

A 49mg pack suits bottles, not a water barrel. Aquatabs makes a bigger 397mg tablet for larger containers, and its pack gives the volume each one treats. Keep the dose and wait written on the strip or in the bag, so anyone using the kit can follow it.

What the tablets do and do not kill

Aquatabs' page claims the tablets remove 99.9999 percent of bacteria, 99.99 percent of viruses and 99.9 percent of cysts. Those are the maker's figures, not independent test results. CDC's guidance is more cautious. It says chemical disinfectants kill viruses and bacteria but may not kill parasites, and that iodine and chlorine tablets kill most germs but will not kill Cryptosporidium. Chlorine dioxide tablets will, if used correctly, per CDC.

Aquatabs is chlorine-based, so on CDC's wording a chlorine tablet is not a safe answer to a Cryptosporidium warning in your water supply. If you are told to boil water, CDC calls boiling the best way to kill germs in water. A filter with a small enough pore size handles parasites, and CDC says to add a disinfectant after filtering to deal with viruses. Our guide to making water safe and water filter comparison cover that pairing.

Official guidance is not uniform

For chemical treatment, Ready.gov's water page says to use only regular household liquid bleach, and that other chemicals, including iodine and water treatment products sold in camping or surplus stores that do not contain sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, are not recommended. CDC's page, by contrast, lists chemical tablets as an accepted method. Follow CDC's current wording and the tablet label, and keep a bottle of plain unscented bleach at home as a second option, since CDC's storage page lists it for disinfecting water.

Shelf life and where it fits

Aquatabs lists up to 5 years of shelf life for the strip-packed 49mg tablets, counted from the date of manufacture, and says its stock is imported from Ireland, so the time left on arrival varies. Check the expiration date on the page or the box. The tablets are a light backup rather than a main water supply: Ready.gov and CDC both start from storing water, at one gallon per person per day, and our water purification tablet comparison lists the alternatives.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you need to treat large containers, if you need a tablet that CDC says handles Cryptosporidium, or if you cannot wait 30 minutes. Skip it in water colder than 40°F unless you can warm it, since Aquatabs sets that as the working limit. For a camp or household filter, see the Sawyer Squeeze review.

How much water does one Aquatabs 49mg tablet treat?

Aquatabs' US page says each tablet treats up to 2 liters, with a half-gallon as the typical dose, and says to wait 30 minutes. Cloudy water should be filtered through a clean cloth first.

Do chlorine tablets kill Cryptosporidium?

CDC says iodine and chlorine tablets will not kill Cryptosporidium, while chlorine dioxide tablets will when used correctly. Aquatabs are NaDCC, a chlorine-based formula, and the maker claims 99.9 percent of cysts, so treat that claim cautiously.

Can I use them in cold water?

Aquatabs says to use them with fresh water above 40°F (4°C). In colder water, warm it first or choose another method such as boiling.

How long do the tablets last?

Aquatabs lists up to 5 years for the strip-packed 49mg tablets, counted from manufacture, and says the time remaining on arrival varies. Check the expiration date on your pack.