Boil Water Advisory: Complete Action Guide for Homeowners
Step-by-step what to do (and not do) during a boil water notice.
Step-by-step what to do (and not do) during a boil water notice.
During a boil advisory, boil all water for at least 1 minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth — but remember that boiling does not remove chemical contaminants like lead or PFAS.
What to Do
Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute (3 minutes if you are above 6,500 feet elevation). This kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium that may have entered the water supply. Let the water cool naturally before using it -- do not add ice from your tap to speed cooling.
Use boiled or bottled water for all consumption: drinking, cooking, making coffee or tea, brushing teeth, washing produce, making baby formula, and filling pet bowls. Ice from your freezer that was made before the advisory was issued should be discarded, since the contamination may have been present before the official notice went out.
Wash dishes with boiled water or run your dishwasher on the sanitize cycle (most dishwashers reach 150F or higher, which is sufficient). For hand washing, tap water with soap is generally safe since intact skin is an effective barrier, but avoid swallowing any water and use boiled or bottled water if you have open cuts.
Don't Do
Do not rely on a home water filter during a boil water advisory. Standard carbon filters (Brita, PUR, fridge filters) are not designed to remove bacteria or viruses. Even reverse osmosis systems are not certified for microbiological contamination unless they include a UV sterilization stage. During a bacterial contamination event, boiling is the only reliable home treatment.
Do not assume the advisory only affects drinking water. Any activity where water might be ingested needs attention: brushing teeth, rinsing contact lenses, and giving water to infants and immunocompromised individuals are all high-risk.
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Do not bathe infants in unboiled tap water during an advisory. For adults, showering is generally considered safe as long as you keep your mouth closed, but sponge baths with boiled water are recommended for young children and anyone with a weakened immune system.
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When It's Over
A boil water advisory is only lifted after your water utility collects samples showing the water meets bacteriological safety standards. Wait for the official all-clear from your utility or local health department before returning to normal use. Do not assume the advisory is over based on social media posts or news reports alone -- only the issuing authority can officially lift it.
Once the advisory is lifted, flush your household plumbing by running all cold water faucets for at least 5 minutes. This clears any contaminated water sitting in your home's pipes. Discard all ice made during the advisory and run your ice maker through 2-3 cycles before using the ice. Run your water softener through a regeneration cycle if you have one.
Replace any water filters (pitcher, fridge, under-sink) that were used during the advisory. Bacterial contamination can colonize filter media, and continuing to use a contaminated filter defeats its purpose even after the water supply is safe again.
Prevention
You cannot prevent a boil water advisory, but you can be prepared for one. Keep at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. The average American household uses 80-100 gallons daily, but in an emergency you need about one gallon per person for drinking and basic hygiene.
Sign up for your water utility's alert system. Most utilities now offer text or email notifications for boil advisories and other emergencies. You can usually find the signup link on your utility's website or on your water bill. Some cities also use emergency alert apps like Nixle or their local 311 system.
Know where your water comes from. Cities that rely on a single water source or a single treatment plant are more vulnerable to disruptions. Check your city's water data on CheckMyTap to understand your local system. If your area has frequent advisories, consider investing in a gravity-fed water filter (like a Berkey or similar) as a backup, though these should supplement, not replace, boiling during active advisories with confirmed bacterial contamination.