Fortified Water
A friend told me vitamin C can eliminate the taste of iodine in water. How much is necessary and does it affect the purification process?
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Question:
A friend told me vitamin C can eliminate the taste of iodine in water. How much is necessary and does it affect the purification process?
Answer:
Your friend was right; there’s no reason to drink bitter water. Vitamin C will eliminate that nasty metallic edge without compromising purification as long as you add it after the iodine pills have done their job–which usually takes 20 minutes. Potable Aqua sells PA Plus, a quick-dissolving tablet that contains 45 milligrams of vitamin C, enough to get rid of the foul taste left by two iodine tabs. Most vitamin C pills contain more than 45 milligrams, so you only need one. Use chewables and let them dissolve for 20 minutes. Or use a sports drink mix, which will eliminate most of the metallic taste and give you an electrolyte boost.