A boil water order is a public health notification advising that tap water may be contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms and must be treated before consumption. This advisory is issued when the public water supply is compromised, often due to confirmed harmful bacteria like E. coli or following a system failure. The directive mandates that all water used for drinking, cooking, or ingestion must be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute to kill potential pathogens.
Showering and Bathing Safety
For most healthy adults, showering during a boil water order is generally considered safe, provided caution is taken to prevent water from entering the mouth, nose, or eyes. The primary health risk is the ingestion of contaminated water, which can lead to gastrointestinal illness. Since the skin does not readily absorb waterborne bacteria or viruses, brief contact during a shower is less concerning.
However, the risk increases for vulnerable populations, including infants, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Toddlers and babies may accidentally swallow bathwater, so sponge baths using boiled and cooled water or bottled water are strongly recommended. People with open wounds, surgical incisions, or severe rashes should also avoid using tap water for cleansing until the order is lifted, as contaminated water could potentially cause a localized infection.
The concern about inhaling steam containing pathogens is typically minimal for the types of microbial contamination that prompt a standard boil water order. The water temperature during a typical shower is not high enough to aerosolize most waterborne bacteria into an inhalable mist. Showering time should be minimized, and care should be taken to keep the face and open wounds away from the direct spray.
Essential Household Water Use During an Order
While showering is usually permitted with precautions, nearly all other forms of water use require strict adherence to the boiling mandate or the use of safe alternatives. Brushing teeth must only be done with bottled water or tap water that has been boiled for one minute and cooled. Using untreated tap water to rinse your mouth or toothbrush carries the same risk of ingestion as drinking.
Washing dishes requires specific steps to ensure sanitization, as standard tap water is unsafe for rinsing. If a dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle or reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F, it is safe to use. For handwashing dishes, a two-step process is necessary: wash and rinse as usual, then sanitize. Sanitization involves immersing the dishes for at least one minute in a separate basin containing one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon, allowing them to air dry completely afterward.
All water used in food preparation must first be boiled, including washing fruits and vegetables, rinsing rice, or adding to recipes. Ice cubes made before the order should be discarded, and automatic ice makers should be turned off, with new ice only created using pre-boiled water. Pets should also be given bottled or boiled and cooled water, as they are susceptible to the same pathogens that affect humans.
Understanding the Cause and Clearance of Boil Orders
Boil orders are typically issued for two main reasons: a confirmed positive test result for harmful microorganisms like E. coli or fecal coliform, or a physical failure in the water distribution system. System failures, such as a large water main break or loss of water pressure, create a risk of back-siphonage, allowing external contaminants to be drawn into the pipes. A precautionary advisory is often issued immediately following such an event while water samples are collected and analyzed.
To lift the order, the water utility must demonstrate that the contamination threat has been eliminated. This process involves corrective actions, such as repairing the water main or increasing chlorine treatment, followed by mandatory flushing of the water lines. The requirement is obtaining at least two consecutive sets of clear water samples, typically collected 24 hours apart, showing no presence of the target bacteria.
Once the order is officially lifted, residents must take steps to flush their household plumbing. This involves running all cold water faucets for several minutes until the water feels noticeably cold, and flushing out all appliances that use water. Discarding any ice made during the advisory period and cleaning faucet screens are also necessary to remove residual contaminated water from the plumbing system.