Staying Safe During a BWA: Actionable Steps Under a Boil Water Advisory
A Boil Water Advisory (BWA) is a public health recommendation issued when a community’s drinking water could be contaminated with disease-causing microbes. Whether triggered by a water main break, a power outage at the treatment plant, or flooding, you must take immediate action to protect your household. Here is exactly how to navigate a BWA safely. 1. The Core Rule: Bring it to a Rolling Boil
The most effective way to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites is heat.
The Method: Fill a pot with tap water and heat it until large bubbles rise continuously to the surface.
The Timing: Let the water boil vigorously for at least one full minute. If you live at an altitude above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters), boil it for three minutes.
Storage: Allow the water to cool completely. Store it in clean, sanitized containers with tight-fitting lids. 2. Kitchen Safety and Food Prep
Do not let your guard down in the kitchen. Standard tap water is unsafe for anything that enters your mouth.
Ice Making: Discard all ice from automatic ice makers. Shut off the ice maker entirely during the advisory. Boil water to freeze into cubes manually.
Washing Food: Clean fruits and vegetables exclusively with boiled or bottled water.
Cooking: Use boiled water for making coffee, tea, formula, or cooking foods like pasta and rice.
Dishwashing: If using a dishwasher, only use it if it has a sanitizing cycle or reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). For handwashing, wash dishes with hot soapy tap water, rinse them, and then soak them for one minute in a separate basin filled with warm water mixed with one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon. Let them air dry completely. 3. Personal Hygiene and Bathroom Care
While you can generally use tap water for some utilities, direct ingestion risk remains high in the bathroom.
Brushing Teeth: Use boiled or bottled water. Do not rinse your toothbrush under tap water.
Showering and Bathing: Adults and older children can shower normally but must avoid swallowing any water.
Infant Care: Bathe sponge-style or use boiled, cooled water for infants and toddlers, as they are highly likely to swallow water during a bath.
Handwashing: In most cases, washing hands with tap water and soap is acceptable. Scrub thoroughly for 20 seconds. If you want extra protection, follow up with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 4. Caring for Pets
Pets can get sick from the same waterborne pathogens as humans.
Drinking Water: Provide your pets with boiled and cooled water or bottled water.
Pet Dishes: Wash their food and water bowls using the same sanitized dishwashing method required for humans. 5. Water Filters: A Dangerous Misconception Do not rely on standard kitchen filtration systems.
What Fails: Standard pitcher filters (like Brita or Pur), refrigerator filters, and basic carbon blocks do not remove bacteria or viruses.
What Works: Only specialized filters certified for microbiological purification (such as certain reverse osmosis systems or specific survival filters) can handle contaminated water. If you are unsure of your filter’s certification, boil the water. What to Do When the Advisory Ends
When local authorities lift the BWA, you cannot immediately drink from the tap. You must flush your home’s plumbing system:
Run all cold water faucets for 3 to 5 minutes to clear the pipes.
Flush automatic ice makers by running and discarding three sequential batches of ice. Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
Replace all water filters on refrigerators, pitchers, and under-sink systems.
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