Why is there a boil water notice for my area?
A boil water notice can be both worrying and a little scary, but knowing why a boil notice is issued and what you can do, can help you stay prepared in case one happens to you. When a boil water notice is issued, it does not necessarily mean the water is contaminated. A lot of the time this is just a precautionary step your city takes to protect you against any potential waterborne contaminants such as Bacteria, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E. coli, and viruses while they investigate the issue.
There are two types of water boil notices that you will see. A precautionary notice means there is a slight chance of backflow of bacteria that could get into the water. This could be from a low or no pressure or water main break or even a disruption in the water plant treatment. Professionals will need to look further to make sure the water is or is not contaminated. A mandatory notice is when they know for sure that there are microbiological contaminants in the water and need time to fix the issue and get the water back to regular levels.
In the case of a boil water notice, it is best to follow the advisory and boil any water that will come in contact with your mouth. Here are some steps you can take to make sure you stay healthy during a boil water notice:
- Use boiled water to wash your dishes, brush your teeth and cook. You may however use tap water and soap to wash your hands and shower. Make sure not to swallow any water while showering. Consider giving children a sponge bath to reduce the chance of swallowing any water.
- Your pets can also get sick so make sure to provide them with either bottled water or cooled boiled water. Make sure to boil the water for at least one minute and allow it to cool before using.
- Use water that has been disinfected with bleach to clean surfaces and toys.
- You can use tap water to water your house plants. Contaminants should not have an effect on them.
A common misconception some people have is that if you have a filtration system, you do not need to boil your water. However, this is incorrect and you indeed need to boil all tap water, even if it has been filtered. Carbon, charcoal, and pitcher filters are not suitable to kill bacteria or viruses. These filters are better at filtering out organic compounds that affect the taste and smell of your water. Even if your fridge and ice maker has a filter, do not use the water and throw away any remaining ice.
Most boil notices will be reported on by your local news stations. You can also go to the Department of Health website for your state and any and all boil notices will be listed. You can also join your local town’s social media group where potential boil notices can be posted as well.
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