A boil water notice is issued to protect consumers when it is possible that drinking water has been contaminated by microorganisms that can cause illness i. This may be in response to known microbiological contamination, or as a precaution when conditions pose a threat of microbiological contamination. Common reasons for a boil water notice include loss of pressure in the water distribution system, loss of disinfection, and other water quality concerns caused by other events such as water line breaks, power outages and floods.
Boil water notices should NOT be used as a response to high levels of chemicals in drinking water, nor for water that is heavily contaminated with sewage. Precautionary Notice means that an incident occurred in which there is a slight chance of backflow or bacteria the entering system, such as, low or no pressure or a water main break or a disruption in the water plant treatment.
A Mandatory Notice is issued when a microbiological contaminant is known to actually exist in the water in an amount that exceeds the allowable maximum contaminant level for drinking water standards.
A boil water event typically lasts 24 to 48 hours, but it can be longer and may last several days. How long depends on what caused the need to boil, how quickly the problem can be corrected, and how long it takes for laboratory results to confirm your water is again ready to drink.
Your water utility can answer questions on how long your boil water notice might last and advise you when you can return to normal water use.
Because water may take 30 minutes to cool, plan ahead. Make up a batch of boiled water in advance so you will not be tempted to use it hot and risk scalds or burns. Boiled water may be used for drinking, cooking, and washing. The flat taste of boiled water can be improved by aeration: pouring it back and forth from one container to another. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or get water from another suitable source.
If customers are advised to flush household plumbing, the guidelines will likely include:. Dishes should be hand-washed with water that has been boiled first. Or, you can use hot, soapy water and add one tablespoon of bleach per gallon as a precaution, and rinse dishes in cooled water that has been boiled first.
Most point-of-use filters are designed to improve the aesthetics of water improve taste and odor , and not to remove harmful bacteria.
You can learn about the capability of your filter by contacting the manufacturer. If in doubt, you should boil your water or use bottled water even if you have a filtering system.
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What actions do I need to take? We also recommend the following steps: Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing Provide pets with boiled water after cooling Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; Most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries; When showering or bathing, avoid allowing the water to come in contact with an open wound Do not wash salad items with tap water during the period; Use bottled water or freshly boiled and cooled tap water To ease inconvenience, Pennsylvania American Water typically provides alternate water sources by placing a water tanker at location s within the affected area.
How long does a boil water advisory last until it can be lifted? If a boil water advisory is issued in your area, be extra careful that water is clean before you drink it or use it. Typically, this means purchasing bottled water or boiling your tap water.
However, you should be careful to avoid getting water in your eyes or mouth. You can use unpurified water to wash dishes, but the dishes should be soaked in a mixture of water and bleach for at least a minute after washing. After the advisory is lifted, flush the plumbing in your home by running all cold water faucets for at least five minutes each. You should also flush all appliances connected to the water line, like refrigerators and dishwashers. Disposable filters that have come in contact with contaminated water should be removed and replaced.
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