User Review: Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets

Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets
Above: The current Water Purifier Tablets, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed February 18, 2009 by Johnny Yuma

Rating:
Price Paid: $14

Bottom line -- don't leave home without it.

I've seen and experienced all sorts of troubles with so called bomb-proof water filters and the end result was usually one of two things: you're at the mercy of some rancid tasting iodine tabs you can pick up at Walmart for the spare change in your pocket, or you're forced to head home early.

I bought a 24 pack to carry as a backup I actually wouldn't mind using if faced with filter troubles. They pack down small, don't hardly weigh a thing, and the package is surprisingly thin...there is no good reason you can say they're an inconvenience to you.

The time it takes to be fully effective is the reason I won't give it a perfect score. It will kill all bacteria and parasites within 30 minutes, but up to 4 hours(!) is the manufacturer's recommended period to ensure that giardia, cryptosporidium and other viruses are dealt with.

Iodine on the other hand has one major limitation... it is ineffective against crypto. Aquamira in a sense has become my insurance policy and has its regular place in my emergency and first aid kit.

Most guys who use a chlorine dioxide based treatment will only wait the first 30 minutes before deeming the water safe. All of what makes untreated backcountry water questionable is killed off in that time, whereas the full treatment period is required for third world type of places.

Pay as much attention as you do to keeping your water safe towards keeping your hands clean and sanitized and digestive tract illnesses are likely something you'll ever gain firsthand knowledge of.

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