When you are leaving for a backpacking trip, you need to ensure that you have a reliable water treatment solution with you. You cannot carry enough quantity of water bottles with you to last for the entire trip, and if you are on a budget, you cannot afford to purchase costly water on your trip. At this point, water filters and purification tablets come in handy.
In this article, we will discuss water filters and water purification tablets. Please keep in mind that portable water filters and water purification tablets are best to be used for outdoor purposes. Most of the homeowners prefer using filtration systems for their water filtration needs.
Water Filters vs. Water Purification Tablets
Water Filters
You may be thinking that water filters are big and complex machines that can only be fitted under your sink or need large spaces to be installed. You are right up to some extent but there are a lot of filters available in the market that can satisfy the needs of backpackers by just easily fitting inside your backpack. All you have to do is to add up the water in them and wait for the filtration process to be completed. Most of the filters have a capacity of ½ liter or a couple of glasses at one time, it may seem like a small volume, but it is enough for one person when you are on the move.
You can fill in the water from any source, and the filter will provide you with pure and healthy drinking water in just 20-30 minutes. The filters can kill bacteria, protozoa, parasites, and other microorganisms. By providing you pure water on the go, these filters ensure that your health remains in perfect condition.
Water filters are cost-effective and work for a long time. If you are an avid traveler, you must buy high-end filters that are a bit costly but are durable and very effective. For occasional travelers, a typical filter around 20$ will do the trick.
Water Purification Tablets
If you want convenience and a more space-saving solution for your water purification needs, then you need to move towards water purification tablets. As the name suggests, they are small tablets that are used to treat and purify water for drinking purposes. All you have to do is to fill in water from any source of water such as lakes, ponds, or any visibly clean water, drop the tablet in the container and these tablets will make your water pure and fit for drinking. Purification tablets come in three different variants; iodine tablets, chlorine tablets, and chlorine dioxide tablets.
All of these tablets take around 30-50 minutes to purify water and kill pathogens and disease-causing microorganisms in the water. If you are allergic to iodine smell in water, you can choose chlorine based tablet and vice versa. While iodine leaves a metallic taste in the water, chlorine leaves a pungent order and tickling taste in the water.
Water purification tablets are portable, lightweight, inexpensive, and can be used over many years. You can easily buy purification tablets online or at stores nearby.
Read more: Water Filter Vs UV Filter – Which One Is More Effective?
Conclusion: The Winner?
Water filters and Purification tablets are the easiest and best ways to filter water on the go. A filter can filter water in a limited amount and leaves no aftertaste. If you are allergic to aftertaste or smell in water, do not go near purification tablets. For people looking to purify a large volume of water during their trips, purification tablets are best; secondly, if you do not mind some smell or flat taste in your water, you can use purification tablets. There can be no winner in this debate; rather, the winner is based on your taste preferences.
Also see: Comparison: Water Softener vs Water Filter vs Conditioner vs Reverse Osmosis vs Descaler
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