Boil water notices or any other alert about your drinking water's safety are scary things to hear from your local government, but knowing what they mean and how to live under them are crucial for your health.
These advisories have surged into the national spotlight amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, which, among other measures, prompted the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to issue a boil water notice for customers in the 90272 ZIP code and nearby areas, while other areas are under a more severe "do not drink" notice. Elsewhere, a boil water notice is in effect in parts of DeKalb County, Georgia, following a water main break.
Being informed about these advisories is especially important as they can vary considerably in length depending on what caused them. While the New York State Department of Health estimates that they typically last between 24 and 48 hours, some can stretch on for days or even weeks.
Read on for all the things you need to know about staying safe during a boil water notice. For more, see what the Los Angeles wildfires look like from space and find out how you can help the victims.
What is a boil water notice?
A boil water notice is an advisory usually issued by a local government to residents of specific areas where the water supply has potentially or definitively become contaminated. While the advisory is in effect, people are strongly urged to boil any tap water before using it for certain things: drinking, preparing food, washing dishes, brushing their teeth and generally anything that can lead to them or their pets consuming the water.
Boiling the water and allowing it to cool before using it kills any harmful contaminants that have entered the water supply, including bacteria, parasites and viruses. While no one can be forced to take these safety measures, not doing so exposes you to a variety of illnesses or health problems, including but not limited to nausea, cramps, diarrhea and headaches, according to American Water, a utility company with operations in 14 states.
How long should I boil the water?
You should bring the water to a full rolling boil for at least a minute before letting it cool off.
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Is a water filter safe during a boil water notice?
Most water filter systems -- including standalone ones and those attached to refrigerators or faucets -- are not capable of removing harmful contaminants that might be in your water during a boil advisory. So do not use them as a reason to not boil the water you need to use.
Are there any uses for unboiled water that are safe during a boil water notice?
It should be safe for you to take showers or baths during a boil water notice. However, you need to make sure that you do not swallow any of the water while doing so.
Doing laundry is also considered safe during a boil water notice.
What is a 'Do Not Drink' notice?
Several water companies in the Los Angeles area have, instead of boil water notices, issued do not drink notices to their customers. The difference between these two notices are extremely important: under a do not drink notice, boiling your tap water will not be sufficient to make it safe for consumption, and those in the advisory area should only be consuming bottled water. The Pasadena Water and Power, Lincoln Avenue Water Company and Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association have each warned their customers to avoid tap water as a result of the wildfires.
"Bottled water should be used for all drinking (including baby formula and juice), brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice and food preparation until further notice," Pasadena Water and Power's statement explained. "This also applies to pets and domestic animals."
During this advisory, showers and baths can still be taken, but you should also be sure not to swallow any of the water used. You can also still do laundry, put it is advised that you use cold water for all loads.
What should I do once the boil water notice lifts?
Once the boil water notice is lifted in your area, you should be good to immediately resume the use of tap water. You could, however, run each faucet in your residence on cold for 5 minutes, just to be safe. You might also be specifically advised to do this by your local government, which is why it is key to wait for its official notice.
How long will the current boil water advisories last?
Many of the boil water notices impacting the Los Angeles area as a result of the wildfires remain ongoing, and due to the scale of the damage caused by them, it's not clear when these notices might be lifted. Any residents who want to check for updates can visit the official Water for LA County page. As of Jan. 21, the do not drink advisory for the Kinneloa Irrigation District water supply area was lifted.
For more, find out if you need more home insurance for natural disasters.