How Long Do You Have to Boil Water to Purify It

If your local health officials issue a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boil tap water. This is because a boil water advisory means your community’s water has or could have, germs that can make you sick. How long do you have to boil water to purify it?

• Boil water for 1 minute to kill bacteria & viruses
• If water is cloudy, filter through a paper towel or coffee filter
• Bring water to a rolling boil
• At altitudes above 5,000 feet, boil water for 3 minutes
• Let the boiled water cool
• Store in a clean, sanitized container
• Improve taste by adding a pinch of salt per liter

Boiling water is technically a pasteurization process boiling for 1 minute will kill bacteria & viruses.  According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pasteurization is a process in which the organisms that could potentially cause harm to humans are killed off.

How Long Do You Have to Boil Water to Purify

To purify water by boiling, bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are at an altitude above 5,000 feet, increase the boiling time to 3 minutes to ensure all pathogens are killed. After boiling, let the water cool before drinking. If the water is cloudy, it should be filtered through a paper towel or coffee filter before boiling. Once the water has cooled, store it in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers. To improve the taste of boiled water, you can add a pinch of salt per liter.

Boiling Tap Water for Drinking

The most likely reasons in which you would need to boil water would be in the case of a city or state-wide boil-water order.  These occur as a result of biological water contamination.  Under these circumstances, tap water that is normally safe is too contaminated to drink.  The most likely events that lead to the biological water contamination include:

• Loss of H2O pressure in municipal or well water distribution systems
• Loss of disinfection in the municipal or well water system
• Extreme contamination of water before disinfection

• Waterline breaks
• Purification system breaks
• Severe weather events
• Power outages

Under a Boil Water Advisory if you don’t it is possible you can suffer a serious illness caused by bacteria that will reproduce in water that is not boiled to temperatures that are sufficient to kill them. Water needs not just to be boiled but to work, the water needs to be boiled and then left for at least a full minute under a full boil to kill off these bacteria. Then the water should be cooled down before being consumed.  Advisories may include information about preparing food, drinks, or ice; dishwashing; and hygiene, such as brushing teeth and bathing.

After an emergency or disaster such as a water main break, hurricane, or flood, your tap water may not be available or safe to use. In these situations, it’s important to know how to prevent illness from unsafe water. Boiling water is the easiest method for purifying drinking water to kill off biological contamination such as bacteria that carry diseases and viruses. Boiling water will not reduce chemical contamination. Some chemical contaminants may get more concentrated after the loss of water in vapor in the boiling process. How long you have to boil water to purify it killing contaminants like bacteria is key.

• If you know or suspect your water is unsafe, don’t use that water to drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula.
• Use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.
• Follow recommendations from your state, local, or tribal health department for boiling or treating water in your area.
• Never use water from radiators or boilers that are part of your home heating system. Learn about places inside and outside of your home where you might find other sources of water that are safe to use.

What is a Boiling Advisory

A boiling advisory is a public health directive issued by authorities to inform residents that their tap water may be contaminated with harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Under a boiling advisory, individuals are advised to boil their water before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing their teeth, making ice, or washing dishes. The advisory is typically issued as a precautionary measure following events that could compromise the safety of the water supply, such as a water main break, flooding, or detection of contaminants during routine water quality testing.

To comply with a boiling advisory, residents should bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (or three minutes at elevations above 5,000 feet) to kill any harmful microorganisms. After boiling, the water should be allowed to cool before use and stored in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers to prevent recontamination.

The advisory remains in effect until authorities have confirmed that the water supply is safe for consumption, which may involve extensive testing and remediation efforts. Authorities will notify the public when the advisory is lifted, at which point normal use of tap water can be resumed without the need for boiling.

How to Boil Water

According to the Centers for Disease Control;  If you don’t have safe bottled water that is stored away, you need to boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the easiest surest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites that may contaminate your source of drinking water. After you boil the water the taste will become flat you can improve the taste by:

• pouring it from one container to another and then allowing it to stand for a few hours
• adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.

• Boil water for 1 minute to kill bacteria & viruses
• If water is cloudy, filter through a paper towel or coffee filter
• Bring water to a rolling boil
• At altitudes above 5,000 feet, boil water for 3 minutes
• Let the boiled water cool
• Store in a clean, sanitized container
• Improve taste by adding a pinch of salt per liter
• Ensure containers have tight covers

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Why Do I Need to Boil Water Longer at Higher Altitudes

At higher altitudes, the atmospheric pressure is lower, which causes water to boil at a lower temperature. This reduced boiling point means that water does not get as hot as it does at sea level, making it less effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

Therefore, to ensure the water reaches a temperature sufficient to purify it, you need to boil it for a longer period. Specifically, at elevations above 5,000 feet, you should boil water for 3 minutes instead of the standard 1 minute. This extended boiling time compensates for the lower boiling temperature, ensuring the water is safe to drink.

How Long to Boil Water to Kill Bacteria

Every species of bacteria and microorganism has a range of temperatures that it can live and die. Most bacteria can be killed off by boiling in 10 minutes or less.  Slow small bubbles when boiling water are not enough to kill off microbes.

A rolling boil continually falling over the top of each other will ensure the proper killing of bacteria like Chyrptosporidian, Giardia, viruses, and bacteria allow it to cool, put it in a clean container then refrigerate it.

The bacteria, protozoans, and viruses are usually sensitive to inactivation at temperatures ranging below 100 degrees. The examination of thermal inactivation in water reveals that bacteria are sensitive to heat, and they die at temperatures above 56 degrees Celsius.

Can I Improve the Taste of Boiled Water

Yes, you can improve the taste of boiled water. Boiling water can sometimes leave it with a flat or slightly off taste due to the loss of oxygen and other gases. One simple way to enhance the flavor is to aerate the water after it has cooled by pouring it back and forth between clean containers. Another effective method is to add a pinch of salt per liter of water, which can help restore some of the minerals lost during boiling.

Additionally, you can infuse the water with a slice of lemon, cucumber, or a few mint leaves to give it a refreshing taste. For those who prefer a more natural approach, letting the water sit uncovered for a few hours can allow it to regain some of its original taste as it reabsorbs air. Using a charcoal water filter can also improve the flavor by removing any residual impurities and adding back beneficial minerals.

If you have access to them, water flavoring drops or electrolyte powders can be a convenient way to enhance the taste. Some people find that chilling boiled water in the refrigerator improves its taste as well. Boiled water can also be mixed with fresh fruit juices for a naturally sweetened drink. Using high-quality, clean storage containers can prevent any plastic or metallic taste from leaching into the water. Experimenting with different combinations of these methods can help you find the best way to improve the taste of your boiled water, making it more enjoyable to drink.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, boiling water is a highly effective method for purifying it and ensuring it is safe to drink, especially during a boiling advisory. By bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute (or three minutes at higher altitudes), you can kill most harmful microorganisms, making the water safe for consumption. It’s essential to follow proper procedures, such as filtering cloudy water, letting it cool, and storing it in clean, sanitized containers. Improving the taste of boiled water is also possible through various methods, such as adding a pinch of salt or aerating the water. By understanding and adhering to these guidelines, you can maintain access to safe and pleasant-tasting drinking water even in situations where the water supply may be compromised.

JimGalloway Author/Editor

References:

CDC-Making Water Safe in an Emergency

EPA- Drinking Water in Your Home 

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