Gallon water and boiled tap water: which one is healthier to drink?

Where is the source of drinking water in your house? Bottled water or boiled tap water? Most people provide special gallon water for drinking and cooking. Meanwhile, some households choose to boil from tap water. However, which one is healthier and cleaner to drink? Learn the comparison of gallon water and tap water below.

Is gallon water safe?

Bottled drinking water sold in gallons does seem safer. The reason is, seen from the advertisement, the gallon water appears to be processed hygienically. However, before entrusting the choice to gallon water, you should pay attention to whether the gallon water brand has received a distribution permit from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and has been tested according to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). Drinking water that has not received permission from BPOM and SNI has the risk of containing various types of disease-causing pathogens.

When the brand is standardized, find out the expiration date. Do not consume drinking water that has passed the stated validity period. Water does not expire, but water packaged in gallons made of plastic has the risk of being contaminated with bacteria and toxic chemicals if it's been too long. This is because as long as gallons are stored in warehouses or stores, the heat of the air or exposure to sunlight can make plastic chemicals drop into the water too. Bad bacteria will also reproduce ferociously.

How about tap water? Is it also safe?

Tap water in every home comes from different sources. Some come from wells (ground water) and some come from rivers or lakes (PAM water). Basically, the water from the PAM installation center has been processed in such a way that it is safe to drink without having to be boiled first.

However, the water quality is likely to decline after being channeled into people's homes. This may be caused by the installation of pipes that do not comply with PAM quality standards or various other technical problems. As a result, bacteria grow in pipes and water is not necessarily safe to drink without cooking it.

Meanwhile, the quality of groundwater from wells or excavation in your house is not guaranteed. You still need to take the water sample to the laboratory to be tested for quality and cleanliness. After it is declared clean and safe, then you can eat it.

If the groundwater in your home has not been tested, do not use it for drinking and cooking. Especially if there are signs of contamination such as cloudy water, yellowish color, or emitting a strange odor.

Can boiling tap water be effective at killing bacteria?

Some types of toxins and bacteria can die if water is boiled until it boils. However, remember that there are also types of bacteria that survive even when boiled. This means that boiling water does not guarantee that your water is safe to drink.

Certain bacteria like Clostridium botulinum can still live above the temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. The bacteria that live in soils, rivers and lakes can cause botulism in infected humans.

Tips for choosing between gallon water and tap water

Ultimately, there are many factors to consider before choosing between gallon water and tap water. If you want to use gallon water, you can only buy water from brands that have been registered with BPOM and SNI. Also make sure that the gallon has not expired and is kept away from sun exposure.

Meanwhile, if you want to use tap water, first test the water quality by taking it to the local health office laboratory. If it has been declared free of bacteria, viruses, or toxins, boil the water to the boiling point, which is one hundred degrees Celsius. Let the water boil for at least ten minutes before turning off the heat.