Infographic: During a Boil Water Advisory (Text Alternative)

Customers in the impacted area, if you have any water coming from your taps, you should bring your water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, then cool it before:

• Consuming any water
• Brushing teeth
• Preparing baby food and formula
• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Giving to pets
• Making ice

Water does not have to be boiled before it is used for washing dishes, hands, laundry, or bathing as long as it is not consumed.

After the Boil Water Advisory is Lifted, Flush Your System

• Begin with the sink faucet on the lowest floor.
• Slowly open the cold water sink faucet. Opening slowly allows for the release of trapped air and may reduce the banging noise, known as a “water hammer” that can occur when water flow and pressure changes as a result of water main repair work.
• Repeat on each floor, moving from lowest to highest, only opening cold water sink faucets.
• Once the water runs clear, usually in 5 minutes or less, turn off faucets in the same order, lowest to highest.
• You should also flush your refrigerator’s water lines.

Customers and businesses should also dispose of stored water, drinks or ice made since the Boil Water Advisory. The next three batches of ice should also be thrown out. Ice maker containers should be wiped clean with a solution of two tablespoons of bleach to one gallon of water.

For more information, please visit our What to Do During and After a Boil Water Advisory page.