People sometimes boil dirty water to make it safer, but there are significant problems with this as a long-term solution. As well as not getting rid of dirt, sourcing and burning a constant supply of fuel can be very difficult, expensive, and bad for people's health and the environment. Boiling also does not neutralise other contaminants, such as toxic metals, which poison groundwater around the world. And it does nothing to stop millions of women and children having to walk miles for their water every day – leaving no time for paid work, education or play. Instead, boiling water adds even more time and further issues to their lives. Nobody should be forced to live this way. As a long-term solution, it is fairer, cheaper and more sustainable to create a water supply that is close and safe at its source.