Water is an indispensable resource for the existence of life. Thanks to its unique properties, it allows the chemical reactions necessary to sustain us to occur. However, this same capacity to sustain life also allows it to harbor harmful organisms or chemicals. Therefore, ensuring that the water we consume is safe is crucial to protecting our health.

Unfortunately, water can also be a vehicle for various infectious diseases, such as cholera, hepatitis, leptospirosis, typhoid fever, and various types of diarrhea. Some of these conditions are caused by bacteria such as Leptospira interrogans, which causes leptospirosis, or Shigella sonnei, which causes intestinal infections. Others are of viral origin, such as the hepatitis A and E viruses. There are even bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae that generate toxins that are highly dangerous to humans.

One of the oldest strategies humanity has used to combat these pathogens has been the use of heat. It is believed that our ancestors boiled water to make it safer some 15,000 years ago. When water reaches temperatures between 90 and 100°C, it boils, which is sufficient to kill most bacteria and deactivate any viruses present.