Katadyn Micropur Forte Water Purification Tablets review
By Tom Calder
A dependable chlorine-and-silver tablet that makes clear water microbiologically safe with a 30-minute wait, and the silver keeps treated water fresh for storage. Reliable and pocketable, but it is a disinfectant, not a filter.
- Best for
- A compact, long-shelf-life water backup for a grab bag or travel where you cannot boil or filter.
- Skip it if
- Your likely water is cloudy, silty or from a source where Cryptosporidium is a concern
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Each tablet treats 1 litre and the pack covers 100 litres in a very small, light package
- Silver ions keep treated water safe for months, so it doubles as a stored-water preserver
- Roughly 5-year shelf life makes it a genuine set-and-forget grab-bag item
Worth knowing
- 30-minute wait for bacteria and viruses, and up to 2 hours for Giardia in cold or cloudy water
- Like all chlorine-based tablets, it does not reliably kill Cryptosporidium and won't remove silt, chemicals or bad taste
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Our review
Katadyn's Micropur Forte MF 1T is a chlorine tablet with a difference: alongside the sodium dichloroisocyanurate that disinfects a litre of clear water in 30 minutes, it carries silver ions that Katadyn says keep the treated water preserved for up to six months. A pack of 100 treats 100 litres and keeps for five years, which makes it a strong grab-bag tablet and a useful way to lay down stored water.
What is in the tablet
Katadyn lists the active ingredients as sodium dichloroisocyanurate at 99.8 mg per gram and silver at 1.8 mg per gram. The chlorine does the disinfecting; the silver is the preservative. The dose is one tablet per litre, and the 100-tablet pack comes in blister strips, so you can split it between a car, a bag and a kitchen drawer.
Katadyn gives three contact times: 30 minutes for bacteria, 30 minutes for viruses and 120 minutes for cysts. So a litre is drinkable after half an hour if bacteria and viruses are the worry, but you wait two hours if the source could carry Giardia. The tablets are for clear water; Katadyn says to filter turbid water first and to use them in combination with a filter.
The silver advantage
Most chlorine tablets protect water for a day or so after treatment. Katadyn says the silver ions in Micropur Forte preserve water for up to six months, which is why the same tablets are sold for keeping tanks and containers fresh. For a household that fills jerry cans ahead of a works notice and wants them to stay sweet, one tablet per litre at filling is a simple routine. It is the only tablet we list that doubles as a storage preservative.
What it cannot do
A disinfectant is not a filter. Tablets leave mud, chemicals, fuel and metals where they are, so flood water and water from unknown sources need more than a tablet. The US Centers for Disease Control says chlorine tablets kill most germs but will not kill Cryptosporidium, and Katadyn makes no Cryptosporidium claim for Micropur Forte. If that parasite is a realistic risk, pair the tablets with a fine filter or choose chlorine dioxide.
The government's Be Ready advice is to follow the instructions on the label, because tablets come in different strengths, and it warns that most alternative water sources will need filtering before tablets are used. Our guide to purifying water in an emergency sets boiling, filtering and tablets side by side, and if a boil water notice is in force, follow your water company's instructions first.
How it compares
On the purification tablet page, the one-litre Aquatabs use the same chlorine chemistry at a lower cost per tablet, without the silver. The Oasis 167 mg tablets treat 20 litres each and suit a full container better than 20 single tablets. The Pyramid Biox Aqua chlorine dioxide tablets are the choice where Cryptosporidium matters, with a longer wait. Micropur Forte sits in the middle: pricier than plain chlorine, but the only one that preserves stored water.
Our verdict
A well-documented tablet with a clear dosing chart, a five-year shelf life and a preservation claim no plain chlorine tablet makes. Buy it for a grab bag or for laying down stored water. Skip it if your likely water is cloudy or from a source where Cryptosporidium is plausible, where a filter or chlorine dioxide tablet is the better first choice.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Katadyn: Micropur Forte MF 1T, 100 tablets; Katadyn: Micropur range; CDC: Making water safe in an emergency; GOV.UK Be Ready: water supply interruptions or outages.
Who shouldn't buy this
Your likely water is cloudy, silty or from a source where Cryptosporidium is a concern — pair it with, or choose, a proper mechanical filter instead of relying on tablets alone.
Key specs
| Treats per tablet | 1 |
| Active agent | Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa/chlorine) plus silver ions |
| Pack size | 100 |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A compact chemical backup for a grab bag, treating clear water on the move.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
How long do Micropur Forte tablets take to work?
Katadyn gives 30 minutes for bacteria and viruses and 120 minutes for cysts such as Giardia. Use clear water, or filter it first, and wait the longer time if the source is doubtful.
How long does treated water stay safe?
Katadyn says the silver ions preserve the water for up to six months in a closed container, which is why the tablets are also used for stored water.
What is the shelf life of Micropur Forte?
Katadyn gives five years. Keep the strips dry and away from heat, and check the date printed on the pack.
Does Micropur Forte kill Cryptosporidium?
Katadyn makes no claim for it. The CDC says chlorine tablets will not kill Cryptosporidium, so use a fine filter or a chlorine dioxide tablet if that is the concern.
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