What to Do During a Boil Water Notice

A boil water notice (BWN), sometimes referred to as a boil water advisory, is a notice issued by your city water system advising you to boil your drinking water for safety purposes. BWNs are issued anytime there is a possibility that the water being delivered to you might be contaminated with cryptosporidium, Legionella, E. coli, or other disease-causing germs and pathogens. Boil water notices typically have a starting and ending date. However, the notice may say that the ending date is to be determined (TBD). BWNs may also include advice on how to safely boil your water and what other precautions should be taken while the notice is in effect.

What Causes a Boil Water Notice to Be Issued?

Things that might cause a boil water notice to be issued include broken pipes, power outages, equipment failures, and natural disasters. When a water pipe breaks, contaminants that are in the soil around the pipe can enter the pipe and contaminate the water. During a power outage, pumps may not be able to maintain adequate water pressure. Pressures below 20 pounds per square inch (PSI) may result in back siphonage, which could cause contaminated water to enter pipes through cracks and joints. Equipment failures in water treatment plants could allow untreated water to exit the plant and be delivered to customers. Natural disasters, such as flooding and stormwater runoff, may cause groundwater to become contaminated.

How Much Time Is Allowed for a City Water System to Issue a Boil Water Notice?

City water systems and other types of public water systems are regulated by both federal and state agencies. In many states, such as Florida for example, the Department of Health (DOH) requires city water systems to notify the public as soon as possible following an event that may have led to the contamination of drinking water but no later than 24 hours following the discovery of the event. Most city water systems will make every effort to immediately notify its customers once such an event has been discovered. However, depending on how long it takes the city water system to discover the event and to issue a boil water notice, you could be unknowingly drinking and otherwise using contaminated water for several hours or possibly even days.

How to Meet the Requirements of a Boil Water Notice

To meet the requirements of a boil water notice, you need to boil your tap water long enough to kill any disease-causing germs and pathogens. Although your boil water notice may specify a shorter period of time depending on your location’s elevation, you should boil your water for at least three minutes to be on the safe side. If your water is cloudy or contains sediment, begin by filtering it through a coffee filter, paper towel or clean cloth. Alternatively, you could allow enough time for the cloudy particles to settle to the bottom of the container. Then boil the clear portion of the water on your stove in a metal pot. Do not try to use hot water from your coffee maker or from a home heating radiator. You could also meet the requirements of a boil water notice by using bottled water.

What to Do After a Boil Water Notice Has Expired

Once a boil water notice has expired, you will need to flush your entire home water system before returning to normal. To do so, start by simultaneously running cold water through all of your taps for at least 15 minutes. If you have a multi-level home, turn on your lower-level taps first. Then turn on and let your upper-level taps run for 15 minutes or more. Complete the process by turning off all taps in reverse order. You will also need to clean all faucet aerators with vinegar and a disposable toothbrush. You should then throw out the present batch of ice in your refrigerator/freezer along with the next three batches. After that, disinfect the ice container with bleach and water. To make sure that no contaminants remain in your water system, you should also flush and replace any filters in your refrigerator water line. Additionally, you should run your dishwasher through one empty cycle before placing dishes in it. Lastly, you should disinfect any surfaces that might have come into contact with contaminated water.

What If I Accidentally Drink Contaminated Water?

If you accidentally drink contaminated water, it could make you severely ill. The most common side effects of drinking contaminated water include diarrhea, stomach aches, fever, and vomiting. However, drinking contaminated water may also lead to kidney failure and can even be fatal to certain people, especially babies, the elderly and those of any age who have a compromised immune system. Certain chemicals in contaminated water could cause skin discoloration, nervous system damage, and adverse reproductive effects. Longer-term exposure to contaminated water can result in chronic conditions, such as certain forms of cancer and adverse neurological and cardiovascular conditions.