Health World

The electric kettle is a fundamental appliance found in most households, as it is indispensable for preparing hot beverages. However, a contentious issue remains: when making tea, should one use the water left over in the kettle from the previous boil, or is it better to discard it and refill the kettle with fresh water? It is well known that boiling water helps eliminate most microorganisms; however, claims have circulated that repeatedly reboiling water leads to the accumulation of harmful substances, prompting some people to empty the kettle after each use.

To clarify this matter, it is necessary to understand the composition of tap water and what happens to it during boiling. Tap water typically contains dissolved salts and minerals, and its hardness varies from city to city and country to country, but it must meet established health standards and regulations. Therefore, boiling it once or multiple times does not make it harmful to health, as the concentrations of chemicals remain extremely low and do not reach levels that pose a health risk. During boiling, some volatile organic compounds may evaporate, while the amount of inorganic compounds, such as minerals and salts, remains largely unchanged.

Regarding the taste of boiled water and beverages prepared from it, the effect of reboiling depends largely on the local water source. Some people may notice a slight change in taste due to a limited increase in mineral concentration or a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water.

In general, if the water used in the kettle initially meets drinking water safety standards, it remains safe and suitable for consumption even after being boiled multiple times.

Source: health.mail.ru