Your state or local health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating drinking water in your area. Here are some general rules concerning water for drinking and cooking. If you use bottled water know where it came from. Otherwise, water should be boiled or treated before use. Drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe.
Boiling water kills harmful bacteria and parasites.
Bringing water to a rolling boil for 1 minute will kill most organisms. Mix the solution thoroughly, and let stand for about thirty minutes. However, this treatment will not kill parasitic organisms. Containers for water should be rinsed with a bleach solution before reusing them. Use water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution.