3/13/2025
WT Staff
 Got water questions? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@wtny.us
March 13, 2025 1112 am EDT
To boil, or not to boil? That is the question!
Public comments appearing on social forums indicate the need to settle this burning question:
Can water of questionable quality be made safe by boiling?
Is boiling be the automatic response to any water concern?
Emphatically, "No!"
Depending on the specific condition of the water, boiling may make the water safe. It could also make the situation worse. In the case of microbiological contamination, such as may occur from time to time when water lines are broken and repaired, or when microbial contamination is detected during regular sampling at the treatment plant and/or sampling sites throughout the distribution lines, the remedy is to boil water for one minute. This is generally effective to sanitize the water for drinking, for making ice, for brushing teeth, for preparing infant formula or other beverages.
There are many other health and safety issues that may appear from time to time with public and private drinking water sources. Regulations for public facilities licensed under the Safe Drinking Water Act are accountable to maintain safe levels for inorganic chemicals such as fluoride, manganese, lead and copper, cyanotoxins from algal blooms, by-products of water disinfection with chlorine and chloramine, benzene, radionuclides and more. Much has been discussed lately about forever chemicals in drinking water, PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkine substances) limits have been established in the National Primary Drinking Water Standards with a phase-in period for the drinking water facilities to gear up. New technologies are required in the water treatment process to remove PFAS from the drinking water, concentrate them in a waste stream and destroy the toxic compounds so they cannot re-enter the watershed.
Unless you have been advised by the municipal drinking water facility to boil your water for a specific reason,
DO NOT BOIL water known to contain :
- cyanotoxins from harmful algal blooms
- inorganic chemicals such as fluoride, arsenic
- disinfection byproducts trihalomethane, haloacetic acids
- manganese
- lead and copper
- PFAS
- benzene
- radionuclides
Boiling the water will kill microbial contamination such as e.coli and coliform, however it will concentrate the other contaminants making the water more toxic. Recent Do Not Consume advisories in Los Angeles County included a warning not to use hot tap water, advising against using dishwashers, even advising lukewarm showers. The water supply in Pacific Palisades and Altadena became contaminated with benzene during the response to suppress wildfires. Benzene is a toxic released during the heating of water. If you were to bathe or shower in such water, the contaminant would be inhaled.
Get familiar and confident by researching your local water supply. Drinking water technicians are highly skilled and trained to provide safe drinking water. With your participation to understand your local water source and finished water characteristics, you can ensure your household the greatest level of success through all kinds of circumstances.
Look for your local drinking water facility's Annual Water Quality Report or Consumer Confidence Report to familiarize yourself with your source water supply and water treatment process. Refer to the front page map here to view the watershed area and direction of flow around your water source. Be aware of events that could impact your local water supply from time to time, including flooding, hazardous spills and chemical fires. Contact the water facility directly with questions or concerns, there is a contact phone number included in every public notice and annual report. The facility needs to hear from you if you are experiencing water issues at your connection point.
Take part in the lead and copper surveys in your water district as many issues originate with the plumbing coming into and inside the home. Refer others to seek details from official sources, such as current lab reports, State compliance and enforcement orders. Continue to seek legitimate information about your water supply from the official sources, the information is fully accessible to the public and should be offered free of charge.
When to Boil
If your drinking water supply is known to be within the limits for all the regulated contaminants, you can safely boil water any time you experience a drop in water pressure or have a disruption in service. In such cases, your local water facility will put out an official boil water advisory. This is done as a precautionary measure to sanitize possible microbiological contamination that can enter the water lines during breaks, repairs, power outages or any event with a loss of pressure below 20 psi. You can get ahead of this by automatically boiling your water intended for consumption for at least one minute at a rolling boil. Your local water officials will advise when lab testing confirms the water safe to drink following any service disruption. Questions are always welcome at the water plant, the emergency contact information is required on every boil water notice.
See our recent coverage of PFAS and drinking water, here.
Public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act are those providing water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or average 25 average people per day, for at 60 days per year or more.
See the latest WTGA.us Drinking Water Facilities Serious Violator List, here.
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