A boil-water order or advisory is a directive or public health advisory provided by health authorities. This is issued by the government whenever pathogens contaminate the drinking water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must be boiled for one minute whenever they issue a boil-water advisory. B boiling the water can kill the viruses, bacteria, and protozoa in the water.
At altitudes above 2,000 meters or 6,600 feet, the water boiling time should be extended to around 3 minutes. This is because the boiling point of water at high altitudes requires more time to kill the organisms.
The order is typically issued whenever the authorities determine that the water served to citizens is contaminated with E. coli or other microbiological viruses.
Additionally, the advisory is issued because of the failure of the distribution system integrity, which is obvious due to system pressure loss.
The loss of pressure does not automatically indicate that the water is contaminated. However, it might mean pathogens can enter the piped-water system and harm consumers. This would mean a drop below 20 pounds per square inch in America.
Thus, this article will help us understand the boil-water order. If the order is issued, we will determine the household's steps to prevent the spread of diseases.
Reasons for Issuance of Boil Water Order
Health authorities issue boil water notices to protect consumers from drinking water that might be contaminated by disease-causing organisms or pathogens. The notice is typically issued when an unexpected condition has led to biological contamination in the public water system.
Some reasons for boil water orders are loss of disinfection, loss of pressure in the distribution system, and water quality issues. This can often result in other problems like treatment disruptions, water line breaks, floods, and power outages.
The reason for the order will also be included whenever the authorities notify you. The local health office can answer any questions about the order and provide instructions on the next steps.
Infectious Organisms Present in the Contaminated Water
Various waterborne pathogens are present in the water. These include protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia, E. coli, Shigella, and viruses.
These organisms can cause gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever.
Sometimes, these diseases can be caused by drinking contaminated water or skin contact, leading to infection. These illnesses are not life-threatening except for children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.
The Length of the Boil Water Order
All consumers will be notified whenever the order is lifted. Your local health office can explain how long the order will last and provide instructions on when it is safe to consume the water.
However, boil water orders usually last only 24 to 48 hours. They can last longer, and the household may boil their water for several days or weeks. The length of the order depends on the conditions that caused the water to boil.
It will also depend on how fast the conditions will be fixed. Moreover, it will depend on the length of the laboratory results to confirm that the water is now safe for drinking.
Steps on Boiling Water to Make it Safe for Drinking
Bring your drinking water to a full rolling boil in about one minute. After that, allow it to cool before using it.
Since cooling the water will take around 30 minutes, create a plan. Boil a batch of water in advance so you won't use it hot and burn yourself. You can use boiled water for washing, drinking, and cooking.
Acceptable Water Source During the Order
Bottled Water
During the advisory, you can use acceptable water sources or buy bottled water certified by the local health authorities.
Bottled water may be used for cooking, washing, or drinking without further treatment. It is preferable when boiling is inconvenient or impossible. Thus, it is always a good idea to have bottled water inside your home in an emergency.
Many bottling companies advise that bottled water can be stored for two years for taste. However, when stored properly, bottled water can be used longer.
Store the water at room temperature or in a cooler. Keep it away from direct sunlight, chemicals, and solvents, such as paint thinners, gasoline, and dry cleaning chemicals.
Bulk Water Hauler/ Tanker
You can also get water from another public water supply, whether or not it is under the boil water order. Moreover, you can try getting water from a certified bulk water hauler.
Additionally, you could try having the emergency response team or water utility provide water from a water buffalo or tanker.
Bulk water might not be as convenient as bottled water, but it is a safe water source for the family during a boil water order. In extended situations, bulk water may be provided for free.
This type of water can be used for cooking, drinking, and washing without any treatment. Depending on the order, tankers may be set up temporarily in your area where you can fill your containers for home use.
Meanwhile, if you decide to arrange a bulk water order yourself, ensure that the bulk hauler is certified by your local health authorities. Ensure that the water delivered is from a government-approved source and is not subject to a boil water order.
Finally, the water must be transported in a sanitized water hauler or tanker.
Furthermore, remember that the water container you use to get water from the station can also affect your health.
Never store gasoline, chemicals, or other fuel in a previously used container. Use containers that are fit and free of contaminants and chemicals.
Roadside Spring is Not Recommended
Remember that roadside springs are not a safe source of drinking water. Authorities seldom monitor it, and no one is responsible for keeping the roadside springs safe. If you want to use the roadside spring water for food preparation or drinking, boil it before using it.
Household Tips During the Boil Water Order
Washing Fruits and Vegetables, Making Ice, and Preparing Baby Food
Fruits, vegetables, and other types of foods that you will not cook must be washed and rinsed using boiled water. You can also use water from an acceptable water source. If you are making ice, the water must be from an acceptable source or boiled.
Be careful when using water to make baby food. Make sure it is boiled, too.
Washing the Dishes and Clothes
Do not use potentially contaminated water when washing your dishes. Instead, use boiled water or water from an approved alternate source.
You can also wash the dishes with dish detergent and then rinse them for one minute with diluted bleach. Put one tablespoon of unscented bleach in one gallon of water.
Ensure you completely air dry your dishes, cups, or cutlery before using it again.
Meanwhile, tap water to wash your clothes is safe unless a ‘Do Not Use’ notification is issued. It is fine to use tap water, but make sure your clothes are completely dry before using them.
Meanwhile, increased turbidity during a boil water order can discolor your white clothes.
Hygiene
You cannot brush your teeth with tap water during the boil water order. Any water you place in your mouth or ingest should be disinfected first. Instead, you can use bottled water.
The same is true for hand washing, bathing, and shaving. If you have blisters, cuts, wounds, or chronic illnesses, you must also use boiled water to minimize the risk of infections.
When using water, supervise children, the elderly, pregnant mothers, and disabled family members. It is advisable to sponge bathe during the order. Moreover, bathing should be minimized to reduce the chance of ingesting contaminated water.
Hand sanitizing wipes might not be enough to clean your hands, especially when preparing food. Meanwhile, alcohol-based sanitizers may work against e-Coli and salmonella. However, it may not be effective for bacterium spores or cryptosporidium.
Pets
To be safe, give your pets boiled water or water from a reliable source. Many pets can drink even bad water, but not all resist pathogens. Some pets are vulnerable to diseases caused by contaminated water, and they can spread it into their environment or inside your home.
Thus, to prevent this from happening to your family, ensure your pet has safe drinking water.
Water for Flushing
You don’t need to disinfect the water you use to flush the toilet. Thus, you can use tap water for this purpose.
Consuming Contaminated Water
If you have already consumed the contaminated water, your chances of becoming ill are low unless you suffer from chronic disease. That is why the authorities issued a boil-water order.
If you are experiencing gastroenteritis like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, or fever, you must see the doctor immediately. If your doctor thinks you are suffering from a waterborne illness, he will ask you to provide stool or blood samples.
Things to Do When the Order is Lifted
When the order is lifted, you should first flush your plumbing or faucets to ensure that everything is back to normal.
Run the cold water faucets on full for about 5 minutes. You can consider flushing it longer if you have a long or complex service connection. The building superintendent will advise you during longer flushing times.
Dump the ice and flush the feed lines. Discard the three batches of ice cubes. Wipe down the ice bin with a disinfectant. If your water feed line is 20 feet or longer and connected to the machine, increase it to five batches.
Next, run enough water to replace the one volume of tanks and lines in water coolers, heaters, and other appliances. If your filters are nearing their end of life, consider replacing them.
Consider running a complete regeneration cycle on your water softeners. For reverse osmosis units, consider replacing the pre-filters and checking the owner’s manual.
Clean the counters, sinks, and food-contact surfaces using disinfectant. Wash the bins and ice cube trays.
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