Is Boiling tap water the same as filtered water?
More and more people are becoming aware of water quality. The simple fact is the water that comes out of your tap is not as clean or safe as you think it is.
Yes, it starts its journey to you at the water treatment plant which adds chlorine to kill bacteria, fluoride for bone and teeth health, and removes contaminants. However, it then travels through miles of pipework, potentially collecting more contaminants.
If you’re not testing the water when it comes out of your tap it’s impossible to know how pure it really is.
Knowing this you’ll want to take steps to clean the water and make it safer for you and your family.
Boiling It
You probably already have a kettle, most homes do. That means you can consider boiling all your water before using it. In fact, boiling water is one of the recommended methods of making water safe if you’re stuck in the wilderness.
The idea is to bring it to a boil and keep it there for at least one minute. That will kill most pathogens, viruses, and protozoa. You’ll want to let the water settle afterward and, if it’s cloudy, it will need filtering.
However, you should be aware that boiling water does leave it with a flat taste. You can pour the water between two containers several times as this aerates the water and improves the taste.
It’s also important to realize that boiling your water does not remove heavy metals or dissolved solids. It does kill bacteria and other contaminants, but, it won’t remove them from the water. You’ll still be drinking them.
Boiled water is softer and the process does remove the chlorine added by the water treatment plant.
Filtered Water
The alternative is to use a water filter. There are an array of products on the market and different types of water filter. You’ll need to decide if a whole house system is better suited to your needs than under-sink water filters.
The under-sink type will supply just one tap. You’ll need to use this tap every time you want a drink or need to wash vegetables, etc. for cooking. In contrast, a whole-house system treats all the water coming into your home. It reduces the chances of you accidentally using unfiltered water.
Again, it’s important to consider which type of filter best suits your needs and remember that an old filter won’t work effectively. You must keep the system up to date or your filter will be no more benefit than no filter!
The Bottom Line
Boiling water does purify it and is a great approach if you’re lost and need water. But, the filtration system is more effective and reliable when you’re at home. The water filter will do a much better job of cleaning and purifying the water. It will also give you valuable nutrients that can never be accessed in boiled water.
Check out the best water filters today and feel confident you’re looking after yourself and your family.
The quality of tap water here is better than most of mineral water we can buy from the supermarkets. I still have to filter and boil them before using it…I guess it’s out of habit. I don’t have the under the sink filter, just a simple Brita filter.
I’m very lucky to have always lived in cities with very clean tap water; I’ve never thought anything of drinking it right out of the faucet, nor have I used a filter. It’s good to know about the alternatives though… I never want to take that for granted!
Interesting comparison here, Raymund. We use filtered water in our coffee pot, and I’ve always wondered if I could just boil tap water instead. Now I know the difference!
This is incredibly timely and quite a coincidence. We have been buying spring water and just last week decided to get the kitchen sink filtered. I had wanted a whole-house system but – believe it or not – no one can find the place where the water enters out house from the street. So the new filter is due to arrive today and I am very excited to get it installed so I don’t have ot buy water any more – less plastic waste makes me happy!