I wonder how many of you knew this . While surfing the internet today I found this bit of information .
Many people , including myself , thought that you needed to boil water for a number of minutes - at least 3 or maybe even 5 or 10 minutes - to make it safe to drink . Not true , it takes 0 minutes . The time it takes for the water to reach a full boil is enough .

The center for disease control seems to think otherwise.

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentWaterTreatment.aspx

Where did you get your info from?

I'm not so sure. I've stepped into a fire and I survived. If I'd have stood there for 3 minutes I might not have.

or am I just being an ass this time?

I can be wrong, but my memory of my science and oother classes is telling me that water cannot get hotter than boiling and remain in the liquid state. As you add heat to boiling water, the heat turns the water into vapor, i.e. steam.

But otherwise, yes, it makes a lot of senses that water once at boiling has already killed all of the organisms need to be killed, if boiling it for one minute is also good enough. However, once I had it boiling, I'd give it that extra minute, just to make sure, provided I was nto concerend about my supply of fuel.

I believe that Chris K. posted that into about a year ago.

"The center for disease control seems to think otherwise."

I suspect that the information is aimed at the 'lowest common denominator' of intelligence. If they didn't say to boil it for a minute, some dork holding a Bic under a cast iron pot would figure that two minutes of that should be good enough. The boiling gives people a definite point to aim for.

Sue

Hey,

I remember a water safety rhyme that went "Big Bubbles, No Troubles". I seem to remember that once you get most water (not the seriously polluted stuff) to a rolling boil, its OK. It has worked for me in the past.

Mike

I think this is the first time I'm playing devil's advocate with myself!

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/how-long-do-you-need-to-boil-water/

Another good article which supports Susan's theory (and has a bunch of other good info about water too):

http://grandpappy.info/wwater.htm

I think one of the most important elements when looking at boiling times is Altitude. At sea level 1 minute of a rolling boil is acceptable, but 3 minutes is recommended. At elevations above 2000m (5000’) then 3 minutes is required and 5 minutes is recommended. The difference is just a 'fudge factor' because in wilderness conditions things go wrong and a little more time is better than a little less and everyone option on a rolling boil may be a bit different as well. Don't take chances boil your water for at least 3 minutes.

Hi Hacksaw,

Altitude will also play a factor, the boiling point temperature of water gets lower the higher the altitude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausius-Clapeyron_equation

This is crucial, as prolonged boiling of water, or water that is boiled twice, drives off the dissolved oxygen in the water, making the tea taste flat . There can sometimes be a fine point between a decent cup of tea and bacterial infection at high altitudes. Thats why a pressure cooker is a good idea at altitude.

People who live at high altitudes, like Tibetans, drink their tea while it is bubbling with boiling. Many Tibetans who moved to India suffered serious burns when they drank their boiling tea at sea-level.

I've heard that it's impossible to boil and egg on Mt. Everest because the water won't get hot enough at a boil to cook the egg.