Water · Water Treatment
The humanitarian-grade NaDCC tablet. Fast, affordable, no taste. Does not cover Cryptosporidium — here is when that matters and when it does not.
The basics
Aquatabs are water purification tablets using NaDCC chemistry — sodium dichloroisocyanurate, a stabilized form of chlorine. They are NSF/ANSI 60 certified and used by UNICEF, WHO, and Red Cross for humanitarian water treatment globally. One 49 mg tablet treats 1 liter of clear water. Add the tablet, wait 30 minutes, drink.
NaDCC kills bacteria, viruses, and Giardia in 30 minutes with virtually no taste or odor. This makes Aquatabs one of the cleanest-tasting tablet options available. The shelf life is 3 to 5 years in the original sealed packaging.
The important limit: NaDCC does not kill Cryptosporidium. Crypto is a parasite with a tough outer shell that chlorine does not penetrate at normal treatment concentrations. If your water source is surface water (streams, ponds), floodwater, or a well in an area with agricultural runoff, Crypto is a real risk. For those situations, use chlorine dioxide tablets (Katadyn Micropur MP1) or pair Aquatabs with a mechanical filter rated for parasites.
For most emergency scenarios in the US — treating stored tap water, municipal water that has lost pressure, or water from a tested source with known non-Crypto bacterial risk — Aquatabs are a fast, economical, widely available option. Stock them as your budget chemical backup alongside a chlorine dioxide option for higher-risk situations.
One tablet per liter per day. At 3 liters per person per day, a 50-count pack covers roughly 16 person-days. For a family of 4 for two weeks, keep 2 to 3 packs on hand. Store in the original sealed packaging in a cool, dry location. Once the foil pouch or bottle is opened, use within 1 year. Aquatabs in individual foil wraps hold potency longer than bottle-packed tablets.
Write the purchase date on the packaging. Rotate on the same annual schedule as other chemical treatment consumables. Expired tablets lose potency but do not become toxic — in a genuine emergency an expired tablet is better than untreated water, but planned preparedness stock should be in-date.
Where to buy
Aquatabs are available at outdoor retailers, pharmacies, and Amazon. The 49 mg tablet for 1-liter dosing is the standard emergency preparedness size. Larger tablets for 20-liter treatment are available but less practical for home use.
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