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Volume 31, Number 8—August 2025

Dispatch

Variance Among Public Health Agencies’ Boil Water Guidance

Megan DorrisComments to Author , Shanna Miko, Jasen M. Kunz, and Vincent R. Hill
Author affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (M. Dorris); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (M. Dorris, S. Miko, J. Kunz, V. Hill)

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Figure

Linear model of boiling time required to reduce pathogen levels, by elevation, for study of variance among public health agencies’ boil water guidance. Model estimates time to achieve 3–5 log reductions of specified microbial groups (3,11). At boiling point temperatures, all listed pathogens achieve the reductions in ≤1 minute, from sea level to 10,000 feet. Incorporating more data points at boiling or near-boiling temperatures could enhance accuracy. Models using pathogen-specific log reduction targets may provide more precise time estimates.

Figure. Linear model of boiling time required to reduce pathogen levels, by elevation, for study of variance among public health agencies’ boil water guidance. Model estimates time to achieve 3–5 log reductions of specified microbial groups (3,11). At boiling point temperatures, all listed pathogens achieve the reductions in ≤1 minute, from sea level to 10,000 feet. Incorporating more data points at boiling or near-boiling temperatures could enhance accuracy. Models using pathogen-specific log reduction targets may provide more precise time estimates.

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References
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Page created: June 24, 2025
Page updated: July 10, 2025
Page reviewed: July 10, 2025
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