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A boil water notice means the water may contain bacteria or other pathogens — usually because pressure was lost and contamination could have entered the system. The water can look, smell and taste completely normal and still be unsafe.
What to do
- Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute, then let it cool. Boiling is what kills the organisms.
- Or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, and mixing baby formula.
- Do not use the tap water for drinking, ice, washing food, or infant formula unless it has been boiled or is bottled.
- Washing dishes: use boiled or bottled water, or a dishwasher with a sanitising cycle if it reaches a high enough temperature.
- Bathing: adults and older children can generally bathe if they avoid swallowing water. Sponge-bathe infants and anyone with open wounds or a weakened immune system.
- Pets need boiled or bottled water too.
When it is lifted
Follow your utility's instructions. Before resuming normal use, flush household lines (run cold taps, and run an empty dishwasher cycle) and replace water filter cartridges and ice made during the notice.
General information from CDC guidance, not medical advice. Always follow the specific instructions from your water utility and county health department — they know what happened to your system.
Where this came from
This article summarises published guidance from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read the original at the source — it is more current than any summary, including this one.
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General information, not advice. This is a summary of published guidance for Florida residents. It is not legal, insurance, medical or construction advice, and it is not a substitute for instructions from your county emergency management office, an emergency responder, your insurer or a qualified professional. Storm conditions, laws and programmes change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the official source above.
Spot an error? Tell us — we correct promptly.
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