Boil Water Advisory: What You Can Drink, Cook With and Wash With
A boil water advisory usually addresses germs: use bottled water or water brought to a rolling boil for the instructed time for drinking and food preparation, while following local directions for hygiene and appliances.
Timeline
- When the advisory begins: Identify whether it says boil water, do not drink or do not use, and follow the issuing authority.
- During the advisory: Use bottled or correctly boiled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and other ingestion routes.
- After officials lift it: Follow local flushing, ice-maker and appliance instructions before resuming normal use.
The first step is to identify the advisory type. A boil water advisory usually means germs may be present and boiling can make water safer. A do-not-drink notice can involve chemicals or toxins that boiling will not remove, while a do-not-use notice warns against contact as well as swallowing. The local water utility or health department's instruction controls. [1][2]
For a typical boil water advisory, CDC guidance says to use commercially bottled water or bring tap water to a full rolling boil for one minute; above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes. Let it cool safely and store it in a clean, sanitized container with a tight cover. Water should still be boiled after passing through a household pitcher or filter unless officials say otherwise. [1][2]
Use safe bottled or boiled water for drinking, cooking, washing produce, making beverages, brushing teeth and preparing ice. Discard ice made after the advisory may have affected the supply, and stop using ice makers or other appliances connected to the water line. Food-preparation surfaces and dishes should follow local sanitation instructions, which may vary with dishwasher temperature. [1]
Infant feeding requires extra care. CDC recommends breastfeeding when possible and ready-to-use formula when it is available during an advisory. Powdered formula is not sterile, and mixing instructions may depend on the emergency and the child's health. Caregivers should follow local public-health guidance and contact the child's clinician when safe water or ready-to-use formula is unavailable. [1]
Bathing and showering may be allowed during many boil advisories if no water is swallowed, but young children are more likely to ingest bath water and may need a sponge bath with safe water. Handwashing rules can also vary. People with open wounds, weakened immunity or specific medical devices should follow instructions from health authorities and their clinicians. [1]
Boiling is not a remedy for fuel, pesticides, heavy contamination, radioactive material or other toxic chemicals. Heating can fail to remove those hazards and may concentrate some substances as water evaporates. Under a do-not-drink or do-not-use notice, switch to an approved alternative supply and wait for explicit instructions rather than applying ordinary boil-advisory advice. [1][2]
When the advisory ends, do not assume every connected appliance is immediately ready. The issuing authority may direct residents to flush household plumbing, replace filters, clean faucet aerators, discard ice and run water-connected equipment. Save the utility's notice and use its end-of-advisory checklist because pipe length, building systems and the original contamination event affect the proper return to service. [1][3]
Sources
- CDC — Drinking Water Advisories: An Overview
- CDC — How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency
- CDC — Drinking Water Advisory Communication Toolbox