Water Emergency Guide
What to do when your city issues a boil-water advisory, reports a contamination event, or you suspect something is wrong with your water.
Boil-Water Advisories
Immediate actions: Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one full minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or making ice. Boiled water can be stored in clean containers. Bottled water is a safe alternative. Showering and bathing in unboiled water is generally safe for healthy adults, but avoid swallowing any water.
Who is most vulnerable: Infants, elderly residents, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system should use only boiled or bottled water for all consumption.
When it ends: Do not stop boiling until your utility officially lifts the advisory. When lifted, run all cold water faucets for 5 minutes, flush the water heater, and discard any ice made during the advisory.
Chemical Spills and Contamination Events
If you are told not to use water at all (Do Not Use order): This is more serious than a boil advisory. Do not drink, cook with, bathe in, or wash dishes with the water. Use only bottled water. Boiling does not remove chemical contaminants.
After the event: Follow your utility's specific flushing instructions. Run cold water taps for the time specified (usually 5 to 15 minutes). Flush the water heater. Replace any water filters, as they may have absorbed contaminants.
Long-Term Protection
If you live in an area prone to water quality events (aging infrastructure, industrial proximity, agricultural runoff), a whole-house filtration system provides ongoing protection. Reverse osmosis systems at the kitchen tap offer an additional barrier for drinking and cooking water. Check your city's water quality page on CheckMyTap for specific risks.