If you can boil water for pasta, you can kill E. coli. Bring your water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (three if you’re above 6,500 feet, because altitude is a snob). This is the “nuke it from orbit” method—heat denatures the bacteria’s proteins, turning them into harmless mush. No fancy gear, no jargon, just a pot and a stove.
You’ll know it’s working when the water looks like it’s having a meltdown. Pro tip: let it cool before you drink it, or you’ll just trade E. coli for a burnt tongue. And trust me, your tongue has enough problems.
