Can you boil tap water to make it safe to drink.

Yes, if you bring the tap water to a rigorous, rolling boil for at least three full minutes, it will effectively kill all the harmful biological bacteria and parasites, making it completely safe to use for brewing hot tea or cooking pasta in your hostel. However, boiling absolutely does not remove heavy metals, sediment, or chemical runoff. If you are staying in a highly agricultural area, it is still significantly safer and healthier to just buy a large jug of purified bottled water from the supermarket specifically for consumption.