A boil water advisory is a public health notification issued by local authorities when tap water is potentially contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. This contamination risk often arises from events like water main breaks, power outages at treatment plants, or flooding that compromises the water distribution system. The danger these pathogens pose is primarily through ingestion, which can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses like diarrhea, nausea, and cramping. Showering is generally safe for healthy adults, provided strict precautions are taken to prevent any water from being swallowed.
Safety of Showering and Bathing
The primary reason showering is allowed under an advisory is that the skin does not readily absorb the microbial contaminants present in the water. Since pathogens must typically be swallowed to cause infection, skin contact is not the major risk factor. You can proceed with your regular shower routine, but you must be extremely careful to keep your mouth, nose, and eyes closed while under the spray.
Home water heaters do not reach the sustained high temperatures necessary for sterilization, meaning the water temperature used for a comfortable shower is insufficient to eliminate pathogens. Individuals with open surgical wounds, fresh cuts, or those who are immunocompromised should take extra precautions. The risk of infection through a break in the skin barrier is higher, so use boiled and cooled water for cleansing.
Special care must be taken when bathing children and infants, as they often inadvertently swallow bathwater. Avoid filling a tub with tap water for toddlers and infants during an advisory. Instead, use a sponge bath with water that has been brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and then cooled. This eliminates the risk of ingestion and ensures the water used for their hygiene is safe.
Hygiene Activities Requiring Boiled Water
Any activity that involves potential water ingestion or direct contact with the mouth requires the use of water that has been made safe by boiling or using bottled water. Brushing teeth falls under this category; you must use boiled and cooled water or bottled water to wet your toothbrush and rinse your mouth. Even a small amount of contaminated water can transmit pathogens.
Handwashing for basic hygiene can typically be done with tap water and soap, followed by thorough scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. If you are washing your hands before preparing food or caring for an infant, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or boiled and cooled water is a safer alternative.
Washing dishes requires careful attention because of the high likelihood of residue or ingestion. Household dishwashers are generally safe only if they have a sanitizing cycle that reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F to 170°F.
Handwashing Dishes
If you must wash dishes by hand, follow these steps:
- Use hot, soapy tap water for washing and rinsing.
- Sanitize the dishes by soaking them for one minute in a separate basin containing a solution of one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
- Allow them to air dry completely.
Contaminated water is a risk in food preparation. All fruits and vegetables must be washed using boiled and cooled water or bottled water.
Food and Formula Safety
- All ice made during the advisory must be discarded.
- New ice should only be made using water that has been boiled.
- Powdered or concentrated infant formula must be prepared with boiled and cooled water.
- Use ready-to-use formula if available.
Steps for Clearing Plumbing Systems
Once local authorities lift the boil water advisory, flush the home’s plumbing system to remove any remaining untreated water from the pipes. Start by running all cold water taps for a minimum of five minutes each to clear the service lines and internal plumbing. The duration may need to be longer for larger homes or complex plumbing systems.
The hot water system also requires flushing. Run the hot water tap for a longer period to completely empty and refill the tank with fresh water. A typical 40-gallon tank requires about 15 minutes, while an 80-gallon tank may require up to 30 minutes.
Water-using appliances must also be addressed to ensure complete safety. Automatic icemakers should be emptied of all existing ice, then run through three full cycles, discarding the ice from each cycle to flush the supply line. Water filters, particularly carbon filters and those on refrigerator dispensers, should be replaced after the flushing process is complete as they may have trapped contaminants.