Here's what to do during a boil water advisory: use bottled water, or tap water brought to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet), for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and your pets' water. In many cases you can still wash your hands with soap and tap water. Always follow your local officials.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
The CDC says water utilities or government agencies issue drinking water advisories when tap water is, or could be, contaminated with something harmful, such as germs, chemicals or toxins. There are three main types, and they ask very different things of you:
Boil water advisory. Boil your tap water before you use it, or use commercially bottled water.
Do not drink advisory. Use commercially bottled water for drinking and cooking. The CDC warns that boiling water that contains harmful chemicals or toxins will not make it safe.
Do not use advisory. Don't use tap water for any purpose while it's in effect. The CDC says these are rare.
So the first step is simple: read the notice and check which one you're under. The rest of this guide covers boil water advisories.
Filter cloudy water first. If the water is cloudy, the CDC says to filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter.
Bring it to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil it for 3 minutes.
Let it cool. Allow boiled water to cool before you use it, so nobody gets burned.
Store it clean. Keep boiled water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.
Your home filter doesn't change this. The CDC says to boil tap water even if it has been through a home water filter or a filter pitcher.
Example (for illustration only): each evening, boil a large pot, let it cool, and pour it into two clean, covered jugs labeled "boiled." One stays by the sink for brushing teeth and cooking. The other goes in the fridge for drinking.
In the kitchen
Use bottled or boiled water to drink and to prepare and cook food.
Don't drink or use water from appliances connected to your water line. The CDC includes the water and ice dispensers in your refrigerator or freezer.
Use disposable plates, cups and utensils if you can.
Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees F (66 degrees C), according to the CDC.
To hand-wash dishes, wash and rinse them as usual in hot water. Then soak them for at least 1 minute in warm water with 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach per gallon, and let them air dry completely.
Clean washable toys and surfaces with bottled water, boiled water or water disinfected with bleach.
In the bathroom
Brush your teeth with boiled or commercially bottled water. Don't use tap water you haven't boiled first.
Adults can shower or bathe, but be careful not to swallow any water.
Take extra care when bathing babies and young children. The CDC suggests a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
In many cases, you can wash your hands with soap and tap water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds. If local authorities or your doctor advise extra caution, use boiled or disinfected water instead.
Everything else
The CDC says it is safe to wash clothes as usual.
You can use tap water for houseplants and gardens, including plants you eat.
Breastfeeding. The CDC says breastfeeding is the best option for feeding an infant.
Formula. If you use formula, the CDC suggests ready-to-use formula if possible. If you only have powdered formula, ask your baby's doctor or your local health department which water to mix it with.
Bottles. Sanitize all baby bottles.
Pets. Give pets commercially bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. The CDC notes that pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people.
This is an example to adapt, not an official list. Your local notice always comes first.
Read the notice and confirm it's a boil water advisory, not a do not drink or do not use advisory.
Tape a "Boil first" note over the kitchen faucet and bathroom sinks.
Tape over the fridge water and ice dispenser so nobody uses it by habit.
Set out bottled water or cooled boiled water for brushing teeth.
Switch to disposable dishes, or use the dishwasher's sanitizing cycle.
Refill pet bowls with bottled or cooled boiled water.
Check on older neighbors or relatives who may not have heard about the advisory.
Decide where you'll get updates, such as your water utility's website or local news.
Having bottled water stored ahead of time makes an advisory much easier. Our sister site's emergency kit checklist covers water and the other basics.
If you or someone in your home gets sick and you think it could be from the water, call your doctor or pharmacist and mention the advisory. Take extra care with babies and anyone who is already unwell. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Keep boiling until your water utility or local officials say the advisory is over. They may also give steps for getting your home's water back to normal, so follow those instructions.
Bring it to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. If you live above 6,500 feet, boil it for 3 minutes. Let it cool before you use it.
Adults usually can, as long as they're careful not to swallow any water. For babies and young children, the CDC suggests extra caution, such as a sponge bath.
Not on its own. The CDC says to boil your tap water even if it has been through a home filter or a filter pitcher.
Yes. Use a dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle or a final rinse of at least 150 degrees F, or hand-wash and then soak dishes in a bleach solution as described above. Disposable dishes are the simplest option.
Family Ready: Emergency Plan is a free iPhone app, with optional paid upgrades, that includes an editable emergency kit checklist based on Ready.gov and Get Prepared guidance. Its free Emergency Card keeps who to call first, allergies, medications and key health details, and it opens without internet. It does not replace emergency services, so keep following your water utility and local officials.
Get Family Ready free on the App Store