Boil Water Advisory Tips

Just in case you need them, here is a list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1. Make sure you boil your water, including filtered water, for three minutes and then one additional minute. This is for any water you plan to use for consumption, including cooking, and making ice in your freezer. Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.

Now in the event you aren't able to boil your water, you can also disinfect it with unscented bleach. If water is clear, add 1/8 teaspoon to one gallon of water; if water is cloudy, filter it with a clean cloth, then add 1/4 teaspoon per gallon. And again, make sure the containers you store any water in are clean and santized.

2. Bathing and showering are fine, just be careful to NOT swallow any water. It's recommended if you give your children baths, you may want to consider a sponge bath. 

Washing hands is fine, but if you plan to cook use boiled or bottled water.

3. Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.

4. Washing dishes by hand; wash and rinse your dishes as you would normally would using hot water. In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water. Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute then let them completely air dry. 

If you use a dishwasher, it is generally safe to use as long as the water reaches a final rinse temperature of 150 degrees or if the washer has a sanitizing cycle.

Laundry is safe to do as usual, but be aware OMU is asking that you conserve water as much as possible, and when giving water to your pets, make sure to give them boiled water that has been cooled.

More information on Boil Water Advisories can be found HERE.