Does boiling really make water drinkable?

How does boiling work?

Boiling involves heating water to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) until it boils. At this temperature, many micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, are destroyed, respecting a suitable boiling time, which can be different depending on the elements to be destroyed.

Benefits of boiling and its limitations

Boiling is a reliable means of eliminating certain infectious agents and reducing the risk of water-borne diseases.
It is particularly useful in situations where water quality is uncertain, such as during travel or natural disasters. Boiling is a simple, accessible method that requires no special equipment other than a heat source. This feature makes it usable by a large number of people around the world.

However, despite its advantages, boiling water has certain limitations:

• Boiling cannot remove chemical contaminants: phosphates contained in pesticides from conventional agriculture, human and veterinary drug residues, household products, paint, heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic...), acids, as well as hydrocarbons used in industry. These substances can remain in the water even after prolonged boiling. The same applies to solid particles or sediments present in water. The boiled water must be filtered in addition to remove these elements.
• Boiling large quantities of water can be a long and laborious process. This process becomes even more restrictive when the water has to be cooled before it can be consumed.
• It is also necessary to have a source of energy, which can be costly or difficult in regions where energy is scarce or expensive. In addition, during a natural disaster, it may not be possible to boil water due to the destruction of infrastructure and the lack of energy sources. In these situations, it is crucial to have an alternative method of purifying water.

Alternatives and Complements to Boiling

• Purification Tablets: these tablets can kill micro-organisms and are often used in conjunction with boiling for complete purification.
• UV Purification Systems: UV purifiers use ultraviolet light to kill micro-organisms and can be a convenient alternative to boiling

Nevertheless, like boiling, these two options only remove microbes, and there will always be chemicals and heavy metals left in your water.

British Berkefeld® Water Filters

British Berkefeld® Water Filters remove sediment, microplastics, bacteria and a wide range of chemical contaminants (see details here). They are designed to provide high-quality, pure and healthy water. What's more, these filters require no electricity, making them particularly useful in emergency situations where power may be unavailable.

For further information, you can consult filter element characteristics.

Conclusion

Boiling is an incomplete method for making water safe and drinkable. It has its limitations and does not make water totally pure in terms of chemical contaminants and sediments, among other things. For optimal purification, it is often necessary to combine boiling with other purification methods such as gravity water filtration systems.

Choosing a British Berkefeld® water filter not only gives you optimum purification at an unbeatable cost, but also peace of mind. Visit our site to discover our range of products and find the filtration solution that best suits your needs.