Aquatab Tablets

Product Description

Aquatabs is an individually packaged effervescent tablet that dissolves in minutes when added to water to kill microbes. These tabs are designed to reduce transmission of cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and other water-borne diseases.

Target SDGs

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Market Suggested Retail Price

$15.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

The product is primarily manufactured and sold by Medentech. Partner organisations include CDC, UNICEF, various small-scale NGOs and non-profits. Various online organisations and storefronts distribute the product.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Klorfasil, Gadyen Dlo, and WaterGuard.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Mass-produced

Intellectural Property Type

Select Type

User Provision Model

The user is likely to receive Aquatabs as a donation, or purchase it from local supermarket, pharmacy, street vendor, or online. Aquatab can also be purchased individually or in bulk from Medentech, its distributors, and retailers.

Distributions to Date Status

Millions of tablets sold which treated 11 billion liters of water in 2016.

Active Chemical and concentration (%)

Unknown percent

Form

Tablet

Dosing method: Batch or flow-through

Batch

Dosing method: Automatic or manual

Manual

Dosing quantity

One 67 mg tab per 20 L

Contact time (min)

30 min

Target free disinfectant residual (mg/L)

2.6 mg/L

Bacteria reduction

Unknown

Virus reduction

4 log

Protozoa reduction

Unknown

Heavy metals and/or arsenic reduction

Unknown

Treatment lifespan (days)

14 days (2 weeks -1 pack for 1 average family)

Maximum recommended influent turbidity level (NTU)

For non-turbid water only

Design Specifications

Check the product schematics below or check out research and standards section for CDC’s Community Health Worker Training Materials for Cholera Prevention and Control. Available in 6 strengths: 3.5 mg, 8.5 mg, 17 mg, 33 mg, 67 mg, 167 mg.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Provided by Medentech.

Replacement Components

This is a single-use product

Lifecycle

Aquatabs have a five year shelf-life in strip packs and a three year shelf-life in tubs. All tablet products should be protected from exposure to temperature extremes or high humidity. The solution can be kept for 7 days in any sealed container or spray bottle, 24 hours in an open container or bucket.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Aquatabs are designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and cysts in water.

Vetted Performance Status

The Aquatabs website states that Efficacy and Acceptability studies have been conducted in several countries throughout the world. This includes independent field trials in a wide range of waters (pH, turbidity, hardness, pathogenic challenge). The website reports successful comparative test trials and provides examples of studies undertaken.

Safety

Aquatabs should be used with clear water. If the water to be treated is murky / turbid, then it should be firstly filtered through a cloth until clear. If the water to be treated is being consumed from a known source (such as with a household water supply), then the low risk dosing, as shown above, can be used. In all other situations, then the high risk dosing should be used.

Complementary Technical Systems

Water requires prior filtration (through a clean cloth or filtering system) before Aquatab use.

Academic Research and References

Clasen, T., et al., 2007, Household Water Treatment using Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) Tablets: A randomized, controlled trial to assess microbiological effectiveness in Bangladesh, The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol.76 (1), pp. 187-192

This presentation presents information about the pilot study undertaken in the usage of the Aquatabs in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Unknown date of presentation:

Molla, N.A., et al., n.d., Pilot Study on the Effect of an Intervention Using Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate Tablets (Aquatabs) for Drinking Water Treatment in Dhaka, Bangladesh

“Home,” Medentech.com. Available: https://www.medentech.com/index.php?id=700

“Where We Work,” Cdc.gov, 11-Oct-2023. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/default.htm

“Central African Republic situation reports,” Unicef.org. Available: https://www.unicef.org/appeals/car/situation-reports.

“Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets,” Com.ph. Available: https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/aquatabs-water-purification-tablets-i925078-s1132559.html

“Goal 6,” Sdgs.un.org. Available: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6

“Aquatabs,” Aquatabs.com. Available: https://www.aquatabs.com/index.php?id=784

“User Provision Model,” Medentech.com. Available: https://www.medentech.com/index.php?id=750

“Podcast Discusses the Market for Water Purification Tablets in Ghana,” Available: https://www.globalwaters.org/resources/blogs/podcast-discusses-market-water-purification-tablets-ghana

Cdc.gov. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/pdf/chw_trainingmaterialsforcholera_v2.pdf

Compliance with regulations

Aquatab is registered with the US EPA for sale in the US. Aquatabs meet the NSF/ANSI Standard 60 as certified by NSF International. The active ingredient in Aquatabs, Troclosene Sodium, is registered by the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for routine treatment of drinking water; meets European Standards for drinking water (EN 12931:2000) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) / The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) specifications for drinking water. The product is manufactured to pharmaceutical standards and certified to the European Union guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practices for medicine.

Evaluation methods

The water samples are analyzed for microbial contamination before and after treatment with Aquatabs.