When you boil dirty water, how clean would it be? Is it drinkable?
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1Clean and lack of live bacteria are different things.– James JenkinsCommented Nov 20, 2015 at 1:03
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1This question already has some good information about boiling water. So while not a duplicate of this exact question (what percentage), this may have the information you're looking for.– Chris MendezCommented Nov 20, 2015 at 1:07
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My understanding (from reading a lot on backpacking, survival, etc) is that boiling for 90 seconds will kill everything (viruses, bacteria, protozoa, etc) but will not decontaminate any sort of chemical contamination that might be there.– Michael MartinezCommented Nov 20, 2015 at 23:39
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1 Answer
How many percentage does the bacteria in the water die if it is boiled?
100%. More info here: How long does water need to be boiled for to kill all bacteria / viruses?
How clean is it after boiling? Is it drinkable?
It will still have any dirt, etc., but that isn't necessarily bad for you. Boiling will not get rid of chemical contaminants such as selenium or toxins that can be produced by algae. If the water is really nasty and murky, then if only for the sake of taste and aesthetics, you may want to filter it through a bandana or a shirt first.
