A boil-water notice arrives as a text alert, a knock, a door hanger, or a line on the local news, and it usually raises the same handful of questions at once. Can I shower? What about the ice in the freezer? The baby’s formula? This FAQ answers those questions using CDC guidance, and explains when the answer is different because the notice is not actually a boil-water notice.
Always follow your own utility’s notice first. Local instructions can differ from general guidance, and they are written for the specific problem in your water system.
The basics
What does a boil-water advisory mean?
It means your tap water may contain disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and needs treatment before you consume it. Utilities issue one after events that can let contamination into the system, such as a main break, a loss of pressure, or a treatment failure. Depending on the state, terms like “advisory,” “notice,” and “order” are used differently, and some states reserve the stronger wording for confirmed contamination. An advisory generally means the water could be contaminated, not that it has been proven to be. Treat it as real either way.
How long do I boil water, and how?
The CDC says to bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. A rolling boil means large bubbles breaking constantly across the surface, not the small bubbles that form on the bottom of a pot as it heats. Start the timer when the boil is rolling.
Boiling kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. If the water is cloudy, let it settle and filter it through a clean cloth or coffee filter first, then boil.
What do I do with boiled water afterward?
Let it cool naturally, without adding ice made from tap water. Store it in clean, covered containers, and label them so nobody mistakes them for plain tap water. A refrigerator pitcher with a lid works.
If you cannot boil, commercially bottled water is the simplest alternative. A household that keeps stored water has a head start, and our water storage and purification guide explains the quantities and treatment options.
The difference that matters most
Is a boil-water notice the same as a “do not drink” notice?
No, and the difference is important. Boiling addresses biological contamination. The CDC is explicit that boiling does not remove chemicals. State drinking water programs generally use “do not drink” or “do not use” notices when chemical contamination is suspected or confirmed, such as after a chemical spill or a cross-connection, and boiling will not make that water safe. If your notice says do not drink, or do not use, do not boil the water as a substitute. Switch to bottled water for everything the notice covers and follow the utility’s directions about what the water can still be used for. If the wording is unclear, call the utility and ask which one it is.
Everyday uses
What about drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth?
CDC guidance says to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, preparing food, brushing teeth, and giving water to pets. In practice, that also means water you add to food or drinks. If a recipe uses tap water, use boiled or bottled water instead, and check your utility’s notice for anything it says about cooking and rinsing produce.
What about ice?
Do not use ice from ice trays, dispensers, or refrigerator ice makers, because it was made from water that may be contaminated. Throw out all ice made with tap water and make new ice with boiled or bottled water.
What about baby formula?
The CDC says breastfeeding is the best option for feeding an infant. If you feed formula, use ready-to-feed formula when you can. If you have to mix powdered or concentrated formula, use bottled or boiled water that has cooled, and follow the formula maker’s directions. If your baby has diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever during an advisory, call the pediatrician.
What about pets?
Give pets commercially bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people, and they can spread germs to people. Fill bowls fresh, and do not let animals drink from puddles or standing water after a main break or flood.
What about dishes and the dishwasher?
The CDC says dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). If yours does not, wash dishes by hand using boiled or bottled water, and follow the sanitizing directions in the CDC guidance or your utility’s notice.
Can I shower, bathe, and do laundry?
Utilities often give specific directions on this, so read the notice. The main concern is swallowing water. Be especially careful with babies and young children, and keep water out of mouths and eyes. If you have open wounds or a weakened immune system, ask your doctor what to do.
When the notice ends
How do I know it is safe again?
Wait for the utility to tell you the advisory is lifted, through the same channel it used to issue the notice. Do not judge by clarity, taste, or smell, which do not show whether microorganisms are present.
What do I do once it is lifted?
The CDC says to run water through all of your taps to flush the faucets. Water dispensers and ice makers in refrigerators also need to be cleaned, so follow the manufacturer’s directions, and check whether a filter needs replacing. Throw out any ice that was made with tap water during the advisory and let the ice maker refill.
Put a little water aside before the next one
Boil-water notices are common and usually short, and the best preparation is ordinary. Keep a few gallons of bottled or stored water, a covered pot that holds a few quarts, and a way to heat it that does not depend on a power outage. Keep a short list of the people in the household who need extra care, such as infants, pets, and anyone on a medical device that uses water. A household that has those things ready can treat the next notice as a minor chore instead of a scramble for the last cases of bottled water on the shelf.