how long to boil water so that it is drinkable
Time To Boil Drinking Water. Boiling is the most certain way of killing all microorganisms. Water temperatures at 160Â° F (70Â° C) kill all pathogens within 30 minutes. Water temperatures above 185Â° F (85Â° C) kill all pathogens within a few minutes. So in the time it takes for water to reach the boiling point (212Â° F or 100Â° C) all pathogens will be killed, even at high altitude. The moment your drinking water reaches a rolling boil, the water has already become safe to drink. NOTE: Caveats regarding Safe Water Boil Times: