What should be done before using water treated with iodine tablets?

To effectively use water treated with iodine tablets, it is crucial to wait for an adequate amount of time after agitating the solution. This waiting period, typically around 25 minutes, allows the iodine to fully disinfect the water by effectively eliminating harmful pathogens, ensuring that the water is safe for consumption.

Agitation is an important step because it helps to distribute the iodine evenly throughout the water, promoting effective disinfection. However, simply agitating the water is not sufficient; the waiting period is necessary for the iodine to complete its antimicrobial action. This step is key to ensuring health and safety when consuming treated water, as premature consumption could lead to exposure to harmful microorganisms.

Other considerations such as cooling the water, straining, or refrigeration do not directly relate to the effectiveness of the iodine treatment in terms of disinfection and safety, which is why those options do not provide the same critical solution as waiting for the specified time.