Aquamira Water Treatment Drops effectively kills bacteria and viruses and enhances the taste of treated water. Unlike iodine or other treatments, Aquamira won’t discolor your water and improves taste. It’s no wonder why the CDC recommends using Chlorine Dioxide for treating water in the backcountry.
Aquamira's EPA registered chlorine dioxide formula has consistently proven to be effective in clear, muddy, warm and cold water. Small size, portability and long shelf life allows this highly effective treatment method to be easily carried and used by individuals anywhere in the world. Each kit contains everything you need to treat up to 30 gallons of water.Chlorine dioxide is generated when the Aquamira® Water Treatment comes in contact with water. Chlorine dioxide is iodine and chlorine free. The unique formula works by releasing nascent oxygen, a highly active form of oxygen, which is a strong oxidant and a powerful germicidal agent. Chlorine dioxide has been used by municipal water treatment plants to kill a variety of waterborne pathogens since the late 1940s. Unlike free chlorine (familiar as household bleach) or other halogen chemicals (such as iodine), chlorine dioxide does not create potentially harmful by-products.
Aquamira’s key benefits are clearly evident when compared to the other common portable water treatment chemicals such as iodine. Chlorine dioxide is a significantly stronger oxidant than iodine, with greater pathogen killing power. Unlike iodine, chlorine dioxide kills protozoan cysts such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia which are responsible for over 80% of waterborne illnesses. Chlorine Dioxide does not discolor water, nor does it give water an unpleasant taste. In fact, chlorine dioxide is often used to improve the taste of water by neutralizing unpleasant flavors.
Features and Specifications
- Kills odor causing bacteria and viruses and enhances the taste of stored potable water
- Treatment has a 4 year shelf life from manufacturing date
- Treats up to 30 gallons
- Easy to Use
- No Aftertaste
- Made in the USA
- EPA Reg. No. 71766-1
- 2 x 30 ml / 1 OZ bottles
Aquamira Water Treatment Drops - Outdoor Gear Lab Top Pick Award
"Chlorine dioxide treatments like the Water Treatment Drops from Aquamira are one of the lightest and smallest water treatment methods, making this system perfect for an emergency water treatment method or weight-conscious hikers. We considered giving this treatment method a Best Buy award because it is so economical, but overall it is such a useful and simple method that we decided it was worthy of our Top Pick award for being light AND inexpensive.
Unlike iodine chemical treatment, chlorine dioxide is not harmful to ingest regularly and does eliminate Cryptosporidium, and unlike most pump filters, this method eliminates viruses. Besides the long incubation time, the primary downside to this approach is that it involves adding chemicals to your drinking water, which puts off some users. If you want to protect yourself against viruses but don't like the idea of chemicals in your water, check out the MSR Guardian, which is the only filter effective against those types of diseases, though it is much more cumbersome and expensive.
The Water Treatment Drops by Aquamira and MSR AquaTabs are inexpensive for a single package, which is helpful for the wallet at the outset. If you travel in the backcountry often, a long-lasting filter such as the MSR Miniworks EX or the Sawyer 4L Water Filtration System would be a better value, although they are not capable on as many pathogens. Another option is the LifeStraw. It weighs just 2.7 ounces and allows you to hike without carrying as much water (as long as you are 100 percent confident you will come across water)."
Outdoor Gear Lab, 2018