Water purification tablets are used for a number of different uses, including emergency water purification in developing countries, military operations, and for travelers who are unsure of the cleanliness of unknown water supplies. However, for many, water purification tablets are essential to keeping their vehicle’s water storage tanks clean and free of bacteria. This applies to both commercial vehicles, such as ships and trains, and domestic vehicles, such as motor homes and narrow boats.

Maintaining a clean water tank is essential for both commercial and domestic vehicles. RV and canal boat owners will want to ensure their water tanks are purified for the health of their family and guests. Commercial vehicle companies have a duty of care to their customers and must provide and manage a clean water tank as part of their service.

There are several different types of water purification tablets that offer different levels of purification/disinfection depending on the amount of chlorine available in each particular tablet. The amount of chlorine available in each tablet generally depends on the weight/size of each tablet.

There are several different types/brands of water purification tablets on the market, with Oasis and Aquatabs water purification tablets being the most popular. For the purpose of this article I will focus on how the Oasis range of tablets can be used to benefit those who have water storage tanks in vehicles.

For the purification of large commercial water tanks, Oasis 3000 tablets are probably best suited. Oasis 3000 tablets are available in packs of 100 with each tablet weighing 9.7g. The available chlorine in each of these tablets is very large compared to other effervescent chlorine tablets. The available chlorine (parts per million) in a liter of water when using an Oasis 3000 tablet is 3000 (you only need 10 available chlorine, parts per million for standard tank purification).

Oasis water purification tablets help eliminate dangerous pathogenic bacteria, as well as a number of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. These tablets rid the water of bacteria that commercial vehicles should purify, such as spores, fungi, viruses, cysts, and algae.

Vehicle water tanks require regular purification and disinfection. For standard tank purification, the user will require a tablet with 10 parts per million available chlorine (when dissolved in 1 liter of water). The tablet will need to be in the water for ten minutes to fully purify. Tank disinfection requires a stronger concentration of chlorine (50 parts per million) and must be carried out occasionally to ensure a completely clean tank.

The number of tablets you need to use depends on the size of the tank you have. For smaller tanks, such as 500 liter tanks, you will need just 1.6 Oasis 3000 tablets to purify the tank. For a larger tank, such as an 8,000 liter tank, you will need 26.6 of these tablets to purify the water.

There are other ranges of tablets that are used specifically as disinfection tablets, such as the Oasis Plus tablets, and others that are for small personal use, such as the Oasis Standard tablets.

For vehicle water tank purification, you can also try other effervescent chlorine tablets that are suitable for use with large tanks and bacteria and legionella test kits.