E. coli outbreaks in American tap water systems happen more often than you may think. Those concerned about their tap water supply often use a filtered water pitcher to remove any pathogens. While those filters can remove harmful metals such as lead, small bacteria like E. coli can surpass standard filters. 

To remove E. coli from water, most cities recommend boiling the water for several minutes to kill any pathogens in the event that the tap water supply is contaminated. If boiling is not an option in the event of a power outage, alternative options such as bottled water will be needed.

This post is part of a weekly series on environmental myths. You can find more myths here.