Filtration Technology

Does Boiling Your Water Make It Safe to Drink?

6 min read

You might think that boiling your water makes it safe to drink...

But, depending on the source of your water, boiling it might not be enough!

Many impurities can be found in water, including heavy metals and chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

While boiling your water will kill most bacteria and viruses, it will not remove all of the impurities from your water.

Keep reading to learn about the health effects of boiling your water…

ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAYS

When you boil water, let it cool for about a minute before drinking it. This will give the water time to reach a temperature that kills off any harmful bacteria or parasites that may be present.


Boiling water is an effective way to kill harmful bacteria and viruses – making it safe to drink. However, boiling water does not remove all impurities.


Boiling can't remove heavy metals and chemicals, like lead, mercury, arsenic, fluoride, nitrates and harmful bacteria like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.


If you're concerned about the quality of your water, the best way to ensure it's safe to drink is to have it tested by a certified laboratory.


Besides boiling, there are other effective ways to purify your water, like ultraviolet light treatment and reverse osmosis.

Water Contaminants That Boiling Cannot Remove

There are several ways to test for water contaminants, including looking through a microscope to see the presence of parasites' eggs and chemical particles, or by using a chemical test strip.

Here are some impurities in the water that boiling can't kill:

1. Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a parasite in water that can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even death. 

It is resistant to boiling and can survive in water that has been boiled for several minutes.

If water is contaminated with Cryptosporidium, it will look cloudy and might have a metallic taste.

2. Giardia

Giardia is a parasite that can cause diarrhea, gas, bloating, and nausea. 

Just like Cryptosporidium, it is also resistant to boiling.

If water is contaminated with Giardia, it might have a bad taste or smell.

3. Arsenic

Arsenic is a poisonous element that can be found in water.

Water becomes contaminated with arsenic because of runoff from factories and power plants. 

It can also be found in groundwater that has been contaminated by chemicals used in farming.

Arsenic is a known carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer.  

It can also cause other health problems, like skin lesions, numbness in extremities, and gastrointestinal issues.

If water is contaminated with arsenic, it will look cloudy and might have a metallic taste.

3. Lead

Lead is a poisonous element that can be found in water.

It gets into the water when pipes that are made of lead corrode.

Lead is a known carcinogen and can cause other health problems, such as brain damage, kidney damage, and high blood pressure.

If water is contaminated with lead, it can have a metallic taste.

Four People Wearing Blue Masks
Boiling water was used during the cholera outbreak in London in 1854. Dr. John Snow (the father of modern epidemiology) recommended boiling water as a way to prevent the spread of cholera.

4. Mercury

Mercury is a poisonous element that gets into the water when power plants burn coal and release mercury into the air. 

The mercury then falls into water bodies and contaminates the fish that live there.

Mercury has a metallic taste and is a known neurotoxin, meaning it can damage the nervous system.  

It can also cause other health problems, like kidney damage and birth defects.

5. Fluoride

Most local water utilities add fluoride to the water to prevent tooth decay. 

However, too much fluoride can be harmful and gives the water a bitter taste.

Excessive fluoride can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which causes white spots on the teeth. 

In severe cases, it can cause skeletal fluorosis –- a condition that damages the bones.

6. Nitrates

Nitrates are chemicals that come from runoff from factories, power plants, farming and sewage.

They can give water a sweet taste and is harmful to infants and young children. 

They can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. 

Ultimately, this can lead to tissue damage and even death.

DID YOU KNOW?

Boiling water is effective at killing bacteria and viruses because of the high temperatures. The boiling point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). At this temperature, the water vaporizes any bacteria or viruses.

Don't Just Boil Your Water, Treat It!

Boiling your water is the best way to kill bacteria and viruses. 

However, it will not remove all of the impurities from your water.

Here are some other treatment options to make sure your water is safe to drink:

1. Distillation

Distillation is a process that removes impurities from water by boiling it and then collecting the resulting steam.

It is effective at removing impurities from water because it separates the water from the contaminants by boiling it.

2. Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a process that removes impurities from water by passing it through a semipermeable membrane. 

The semipermeable membrane allows water to pass through while blocking most impurities.

This is because the molecules of impurities are larger than the molecules of water, and they are unable to pass through the membrane.

3. Water Filters

Water filters are devices that remove impurities from water by passing it through a porous material.

They are effective because they use a porous material to trap the contaminants.

The porous material in a filter has a large surface area, which allows it to trap many contaminants.

The pores in the material are also very small, which prevents the impurities from passing through.

4. Ion Exchange

Ion exchange is a process that removes contaminants from water by passing it through an ion exchange resin.

The ion exchange resin contains charged particles that attract and bind to the impurities in the water. 

This process removes the impurities from the water and leaves behind clean, purified water.

5. Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet light is a type of light that is effective at killing bacteria and viruses by damaging their DNA and making it impossible for them to reproduce.

6. Chlorination

Chlorination is a process that kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites by exposing them to chlorine.

Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that kills these organisms quickly and effectively.

If your private well is full of bacteria and parasites, chlorine is the best way to clean it.

However, too much long-term exposure to chlorine and chlorine byproducts can be harmful to your health.

7. Ozonation

Ozone is a powerful oxidant that kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites quickly and effectively. 

It also removes chemicals from the water, making it clean and safe to drink.

These are all great methods for purifying your water and making sure it is safe to drink.

But if you are still concerned about the safety of your water, contact your local water utility or environmental health department to have your water tested.

So, the next time you are thinking about boiling your water...

Remember that there are other options available to you.

Choose the method that best suits your needs!

when was the last time you tested your tap?

A friendly reminder to get your tap water professionally tested at least once a year to avoid any unwanted contaminants from sneaking in. Check out your community's most recent test results by entering your zip code in the box below.

Filtered Water vs. Boiled Water, Which Is Better for You?

Boiling water is a great way to kill bacteria, but there are other purification methods that are more effective and convenient.

Water filters are a great option for purifying your water, and they have many benefits over boiling water.

Mainly, they remove more impurities than boiling and improve the taste.

There are many kinds of water filters and each one is designed to remove different kinds of impurities.

Some water filters are better at removing bacterial contaminants, while others are better at removing chemical contaminants.

The best way to find out which is right for you is to read the reviews and compare the features of different water filters.

Remember, when it comes to your health, it is always better to be safe than sorry!

If you are looking for an effective and affordable water filter, reverse osmosis is a great option for you!

Why Choose a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter?

Reverse osmosis water filters can remove even the most dangerous, hard-to-remove contaminants.   

They can be used on their own or together with other water filters and are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, so you can choose the perfect filter for your needs.

Cloud Water Filters fit right under your kitchen sink and remove up to 99.9% of harmful contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemicals.

They even use built-in software to track and monitor your water quality around the clock.

So, if you're concerned about the safety of your drinking water…

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Do you know what’s in your tap water?

Have you thought about what's in your tap water? You should check.