How Long To Boil Tap Water To Purify. Boil tap water to drink the simplest and most homemade method of purifying drinking water is to boil it. Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).

Instructions for boiling water the epa has instructions for purifying water by boiling. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. But, how long to boil water before consumption?