“Safe Is Good Enough”: Boiled vs Filtered Water, Sommelier Breaks Down the Safety Differences

• A certified water sommelier shared a video debunking what many South Africans believe about boiling tap water
• She explained that boiling kills bacteria and bugs but leaves behind heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and chemical contaminants
• Her video sparked debate, with many viewers saying safe water was good enough and they would keep boiling

A certified water sommelier is challenging a belief that millions of people hold about their daily drinking water. In a video posted on 14 September 2026 on the TikTok account @watersomm, she broke down exactly what boiling your tap water can and cannot do.

Speaking from her car, the water expert and face of Valpre and Revive explained that boiling is effective at killing living organisms such as bacteria and bugs that lead to digestive illness. However, she was clear that a kettle is not a filter, and that is where most people's understanding falls short.

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What boiling water actually removes

Non-living contaminants, including heavy metals like lead, pharmaceutical residues, and other chemical impurities, survive the boiling process entirely. Heat simply cannot eliminate what is not alive to begin with.

Her conclusion drew a sharp line between two different goals: boiling makes water safe to drink, while proper filtration is what makes it genuinely clean and high quality. The distinction, she argued, is one most people have never considered.

Watch the TikTok video that sparked the debate below:

Viewers push back on the filter advice

Not everyone was convinced that boiling was falling short of the mark. The video sparked lively debate, with many commenters saying they were perfectly happy with water that was simply safe.

@Grae-Moon said:

"I've been drinking tap water for 49 years (it's the main liquid I drink) and I'm still fine 🌊."

@Lalejo kept it brief:

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger 💪."

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@kedi560 added:

"Safe is good enough for me 👍."

@Nayla Zal echoed that:

"Guys, it's fine 🙄 just drink tap water all 😭🙏."

@wacky wtx offered a different reason for boiling altogether:

"I boil water to remove microplastics; that's the only reason."

@T1 G$cotter pointed to the financial reality behind the sommelier's advice:

"I caught a glimpse of a water filter attached to somebody's shower head. Do you know how much those cost?"

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Source: Briefly News