Best water purification tablets and drops

By Alice Tuffery

Published: Wednesday, 21 December 2022 at 12:00 am

Water purification tablets are useful for hikers, backpackers and travellers who want to make sure their drinking water is free from bacteria and viruses. While they won’t remove chemicals or heavy metals – contaminated water sources running through farmland, for example.

Once you’ve purified your drinking water, you can also use it to brush your teeth, wash out wounds or clean fruit and vegetables.

Grab yourself a new hiking water bottle with our guide to the best practical and stylish designs on the market.

What type of water purification tablets should I buy?

Three or four chemicals are commonly used in water purification tablets: chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium (NaDCC) and iodine.

Plain chlorine tablets are inexpensive, but may cause treated water to smell and taste faintly like bleach, though of course the concentration is too weak to do any harm when you drink it. Troclosene sodium tablets (NaDCC) are also inexpensive; likewise, treated water may smell a little like chlorine.

Chlorine dioxide tablets are more expensive but have a much less discernible scent and flavour, which is why some people prefer them.