What To Do First When a Boil Water Advisory Is Issued
A boil water advisory means your tap water may have harmful germs in it, and boiling is the safest way to kill them before you drink it, cook with it, or brush your teeth with it. Use bottled water if you have it. If you don’t, bring clear tap water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet elevation, then let it cool before use. Below is a room-by-room checklist so nothing in your house gets missed, plus the point where boiling water alone will not solve the problem.
How To Boil Water Safely
- If the water looks cloudy, filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter first, or let it settle and pour off the clear water on top.
- Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 full minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes.
- Let the water cool naturally, then store it in a clean, covered container.
- Boil tap water even if it already passed through a home filter or filter pitcher. Standard filters do not remove all germs.
- Boiling does not remove fuel, chemicals, or radioactive material from water. If you know or suspect one of these is in your water supply, boiling will not make it safe.
This guidance follows the CDC’s instructions for making water safe in an emergency and the EPA’s guide to emergency water disinfection.
Room-By-Room Boil Water Checklist
Kitchen: Drinking, Ice and Cooking
- Drink only bottled or boiled water. Do not use water or ice from your refrigerator or freezer dispenser, since that line connects to your regular tap water.
- Cook and prepare food with bottled or boiled water.
- Wash fruits and vegetables with bottled or boiled water.
- Make ice only with bottled or boiled water that has cooled. Toss out any ice made before the advisory started.
Dishes
- If you can, use disposable plates and utensils until the advisory ends.
- Dishwashers are generally safe if they reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F or have a sanitizing cycle. Check your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer to confirm your dishwasher’s rinse temperature.
- To wash dishes by hand: wash and rinse as usual with hot water, then mix 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of warm water in a separate basin, soak the rinsed dishes for at least 1 minute, and let them air dry completely before using them again.
Brushing Teeth and Bathing
- Brush teeth with bottled or boiled water only. Do not use tap water straight from the faucet.
- Regular bathing and showering are usually fine, but be careful not to swallow any water.
- Give babies and young children a sponge bath instead of a full bath to lower the chance they swallow water.
Infant and Baby Needs
- Use ready-to-feed formula if it’s available, since it does not require added water.
- If you must mix powdered or concentrated formula, use bottled or boiled water that has cooled.
- Sanitize all baby bottles before use.
- Breastfeeding remains the recommended option for feeding an infant during a water emergency.
Pets
- Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from the same germs that make people sick, and can pass germs back to your family.
Laundry and Cleaning
- It’s safe to wash clothes as usual during a boil water advisory.
- Clean toys and surfaces with bottled water, boiled water, or water disinfected with bleach.
Garden and Houseplants
- Regular tap water is fine for houseplants and garden watering, including plants you plan to eat.
When Boiling Isn’t Enough
Boiling kills germs, but it will not remove chemicals, fuel, or radioactive material from water. If local officials tell you the water contains one of these instead of germs, you’ll likely be under a “do not drink” or “do not use” advisory instead of a boil water advisory. Read the specific wording of your advisory carefully, since the safe response is different for each type. When in doubt, use bottled water and check your emergency water storage supply until your local water utility confirms which type of advisory is in effect.
Vulnerable Household Members and When To Get Medical Help
Infants, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system face higher risk from contaminated water and should be extra strict about following the advisory. If someone in your home develops vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of dehydration after drinking or using tap water during the advisory, contact a doctor. If symptoms are severe or you have any medical emergency, call 911. This article covers general safety steps only and is not medical advice; see our medical disclaimer for more on how we handle health-related content.
When the Advisory Is Lifted
Don’t go back to using tap water normally just because the water looks or smells fine. Wait for your local water utility or health department to officially announce that the advisory has ended. Follow any additional instructions they give you at that point, since some utilities ask residents to run taps for a period or replace point-of-use filters after an advisory is lifted. If you’re not sure whether the advisory is still active, contact your water utility directly rather than guessing.
FAQs
How long do I need to boil water during a boil water advisory?
Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 full minute. If you’re above 6,500 feet in elevation, boil it for 3 minutes instead.
Can I use my refrigerator’s water or ice dispenser during a boil water advisory?
No. Refrigerator and freezer dispensers connect to your regular water line, so they carry the same risk as your kitchen faucet during the advisory.
Do I need to boil water for my pets too?
Yes. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled, since they can get sick from the same contaminants that affect people.
Is it safe to shower during a boil water advisory?
Usually yes, but avoid swallowing any water, and give babies and young children a sponge bath instead of a full bath to reduce that risk.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is for general preparedness education only and is not a substitute for instructions from your local water utility, health department, or emergency management agency. Advisory types and required precautions vary by location and by the specific contaminant involved. Always follow the specific guidance issued by your local officials, and contact a healthcare provider or call 911 for any medical emergency.