Boil Water Advisory?

Don’t Panic.  The most important advice I could give is to not panic.  When a government agency or health institution offers a boil water advisory a community water supply could be contaminated by bacteria. Common causes include low or loss of water pressure, turbidity, bacteria, natural disaster, and vandalism.

What To Do During a Boil Water Advisory?

Boil the water for one minute then let it cool.

During a boil water advisory stick to water other than your tap.  Bottled water is always an option, avoid using water appliances such as fridges, ice makers, coffee machines that may have been contaminated by the bacteria.  Washing your hands, face and body is ok just make sure to avoid putting the water in your mouth.

Cats and dogs and all our animal friends could get sick so similar cautions need to be taken for them as well.

No Hydro?

It may occur that you have no hydro and a boil water advisory.  In such an event bleach will be your friend.  If the tap water is clear add one-eighth of a teaspoon of unscented bleach to a gallon of water. Mix well and let sit for 30 minutes.

Filter cloudy water using a clean cloth before adding a quarter teaspoon of bleach into a gallon of water.

During a boil water notice, it’s best to listen to the public health authorities issuing the notice and to follow suit accordingly.

Can a Reverse Osmosis System Protect My Water?

Reverse osmosis water purification systems are an incredible system.  Depending on their certifications they are able to remove a majority of contaminants and some specialty filters may even remove bacteria. If you are considering using reverse osmosis as a safety precaution, consult with an equipment technician. However, you should always adhere to boil water notices.