Published August 11, 2011 06:16PM
Boiling at Altitude
How long should water boil at 14,000 feet altitude where it boils at 60 degrees Celsius?
'Buck Tilton'
Question:
How long should water boil at 14,000 feet altitude where it boils at 60 degrees Celsius?
Submitted by – David – Bethesda, MD
Answer:
Do you mean how long should water boil in order to guarantee freedom from pathogens? If so, first your info is a bit off. At 14,000 feet, water boils at 85.6 degrees Celsius. Your water will be safe to drink at 14,000 as long as the water reaches a rolling boil. It does not have to boil for a certain amount of time. In fact, water boils at 19,000 feet at 80.9 degrees Celsius, and the same rule applies there. Your water needs only roll in a boil to be safe to drink.