PA Plus is an ascorbic acid tablet that removes, or “neutralizes”, the taste, odor and color of residual iodine remaining in your water after it’s been treated with Potable Aqua. Each PA+ tablet contains 45 milligrams of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Chemical treatment of water, as opposed to physical (filtration) or ultraviolet treatment methods, relies on a small excess of disinfectant to ensure all germs are killed in the specified wait time. In other words, not all of the iodine released by Potable Aqua tablets is used up when killing the germs in your water, a trace amount of “residual iodine” disinfectant will remain. This little bit of disinfectant provides extended protection to stored water and helps prevent the formation of biogrowth or slime in your water container.
Ascorbic acid acts as a reducing agent, converting residual iodine into a form which has little or no germicidal properties and lacks the characteristic iodine taste, odor and color.
Two (2) PA+ tablets will fully neutralize the residual iodine remaining after treatment with two tablets of Potable Aqua.
PA Plus tablets disintegrate rapidly and remove the iodine taste and odor within three (3) minutes.
No, PA+ tablets are completely optional. After your water has been properly treated with Potable Aqua, it is bacteriologically suitable for drinking and the residual iodine will help protect your water container from biogrowth during storage. However, if extended protection is not needed, PA+ Tablets are a fast and easy way to improve the taste and odor of your treated water if desired.
NEVER add PA+ tablets to your water at the same time as the Potable Aqua tablets – doing so would cause the iodine released by the Potable Aqua tablets to be converted to a form lacking germicidal properties and unable disinfect your water. After adding the Potable Aqua tablets to your water, you must wait a minimum of 30-minutes before adding PA+ tablets.
No, after adding PA Plus to your water it will no longer be protected by residual iodine. The PA+ tablets will convert residual iodine into a form that has no germicidal properties, so take care to prevent potential recontamination of your water. If you are storing water that has been treated with Potable Aqua® for later use, it is best to reserve using PA+ to neutralize the taste and odor until just before you drink it.
No, repackaging PA+ tablets is not recommended. To ensure optimal shelf life and effectiveness, storage in original container is recommended with cap tightly sealed.