Iodine Purification Tablet question

“I used some Potable Aqua tablets last summer to purify my water on my PCT hike. I was wondering if the prolonged use of the tablets....say on a thruhike, would be a bad thing? They are the most convienient way to purify water IMHO.”

“If you take a vitamin C tablet, crush it up and add just a tiny bit to the iodin solution **AFTER** it has treated the water it will completely neutralize it, in seconds.....no more iodine, iodine taste or color! I use two tabs per quart, wait 20/30 min, then add the vitamin C...you won't have to worry about build up in your system.

You can also buy the package with the "neutralizer" for a few bucks more....it's ascorbic acid.”

“Oh yea, because vitamin C neutralizes iodine, do not add powders or supplements that contain vitamin C until after you have completely treated your water.”

“Why not use Aquamira instead? No bad taste, no worries about iodine ingestion, 120 quarts of water from each 2 bottle kit and simple to use.”

“Iodine has not bothered me so far.. but hey.. I throw a little crystal lite into my water sometimes..

*looks at the purple cast to his skin*

hMmm.. maybe too much iodine?”

“Does the Aquamira kill everything the filters do? I looked around, but could not find a definitive answer.”

“Good point switchback, iodine will not kill cryptosporidia, this can be treated by filters though....not sure about the Aquamira.”

“Don't forget to squeeze your bottle to squirt some iodine around your threads on the bottle.”

“I read a test on it in backpacker magazine and they said it killed the bugs that everyone is worried about. I gave it my own test. Last winter, I was forced to purify water from an active beaver dam and I didn't get sick. Further, I've been using the product since last winter and haven't been sick and have read good results from other hikers too. It my not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like Aquamira for water purification.”

“are there a down side to Aquamira except the wait time? Taste? Odor? Color?”

“I used the purification that did have the nutralizer, I didn't know that it compleatly removed the iodine. I just thought it made it better tasting.”

“I heared that iodine tablets have a shelf live once they have been open? whats the word about that.”

“Aquamira adds no taste to the water that I could detect. The wait time is 5 minutes to mix 7 drops of each of the chemicals in a small cup and then 15 minutes after you add the mixture to the water. In winter, double the contact time. 30 minutes in winter may seem like a long time to wait, but I've found it easier to deal with than a filter that is hard to keep thawed and maintained. If you plan your water use the wait time is manageable. Aquamira has a shelf life of 3 years. Potable aqua degrades pretty fast after the bottle is opened, I heard.”

“Iodine pills have a limited shelf life. Potable Aqua has a life of 4 years from the date printed on the bottle if unopened, and one year once opened. See the thread "Shelf life of potable aqua" for details.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread.asp?threadid=9726”

“I have heard that grapefruit extract or crushed up vitamin C can take out the nasty taste. Anyone tried this?”

“mtnsteve has. 2nd post on this thread.”

“Nigal --

What's the lightweight alternative here?

I vastly prefer a couple of iodine tablets. The taste isn't a huge issue for me, its easy, and certainly a lot lighter than a filter apparatus.

Does iodine do the trick (I've never ahd a problem)?”

“I?ve never used it before. Bacpac said my new handy-dandy Pur Scout makes water taste like iodine so I was wondering how I can take the taste out. Having not even used the filter yet I don?t even know if it will be a problem yet. My city?s water is so possessed I doubt I?ll be able to tell the difference.”