Boil-Water Advisory and Drinking Water Notice Guide

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Quick answer: Read the exact notice. A boil-water advisory, do-not-drink notice, and do-not-use notice require different actions. Boiling kills many germs but does not remove fuel, toxic chemicals, salt, or radioactive contamination.

Confirm the notice

Use the water utility, health department, or emergency-management source. Record the affected area, start time, reason, permitted uses, treatment instructions, and where updates will appear.

Use safe water for essential tasks

Follow the notice for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, washing dishes, hand hygiene, pet water, and infant formula. Use commercially bottled water when instructed or when the contaminant cannot be removed at home.

Boil only when directed

For microbial advisories, follow the exact local method. CDC guidance commonly calls for bringing clear water to a rolling boil for one minute, or three minutes above 6,500 feet, then cooling it safely. Local instructions control.

Protect vulnerable needs

Infants, pregnancy, immune compromise, medical devices, wound care, dialysis, and certain medications can require special instructions. Contact qualified healthcare providers and the water authority.

Return to normal carefully

Wait for the official all-clear. Follow directions for flushing plumbing, replacing filters, cleaning ice makers, appliances, containers, and any equipment connected to water.

Quick checklist

  • Save official alerts and contacts offline.
  • Include medication, accessibility, children, older adults, animals, and transport needs.
  • Practice the plan and update it after household changes.
  • Follow current local instructions during an actual emergency.

Official sources

  • CDC — Boil Water Advisory: https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/boil-water-advisory.html
  • CDC — Make Water Safe: https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/index.html

This guide provides general preparedness education and does not replace emergency services, product labels, or qualified professional guidance.

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