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How to Use Boiling Water to Kill Germs

If you want to survive while camping, hiking or exploring the wilderness, you will need clean and safe drinking water. Packing water has its advantages, but also adds weight to your gear. If you want to rough it the old-fashioned way, you can gather rain and river water from your environment. However, before you drink the water, it is critical to kill any germs that might make it their home.

Things You'll Need

Fire or portable stove
Pot
Two Canteens or jugs

Instructions

- 1
  Collect water from nearby sources using a canteen or jug.
- 2
  Start a fire or turn on your portable stove.
- 3
  Pour the water into the pot and place it over the fire or on the stove.
- 4
  Leave the water over the heat source until it begins to boil. Water boils at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit, but the Wilderness Medical Society states that any temperature above 85 degrees Celsius or 185 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to kill microorganism in just a few minutes.
- 5
  Allow the water to cool down and pour it into a clean water canteen. Use one canteen for clean water and one for collected water.

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