Food and Water
What to Do During a Boil Water Advisory: A Household Tap-Water Checklist
Learn what water is safe for drinking, cooking, teeth, dishes, babies, pets, bathing, filters, and ice during a boil-water advisory.
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A boil-water advisory can arrive after a water-main break, loss of pressure, flood, storm, treatment problem, or another event that may allow germs into the water system. The notice does not mean every household member will become sick. It means you should change how you use tap water until your water utility or public-health agency says the advisory is over. Start by reading the exact notice, because a boil-water advisory is different from a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory.
Written by Coach Dex
Practical guidance, checked against primary sources
Coach Dex is the founder and author behind SWC. Safety-sensitive guidance is checked against current government, public-safety, utility, or manufacturer information before publication.
First, identify which water advisory you received
A boil-water advisory usually addresses germs that boiling can kill. A do-not-drink advisory may involve chemicals or toxins that boiling will not remove and may concentrate. A do-not-use advisory means contact with the water may be dangerous. Do not treat these notices as interchangeable.
Use the instructions from your water utility, health department, or emergency-management agency as the controlling guidance. Confirm the affected area, start time, reason for the notice, and whether the notice applies to every use or only certain activities. If the notice is unclear, call the water system rather than guessing.
- Boil water: use commercially bottled water or properly boiled tap water for the uses named in the notice
- Do not drink: use commercially bottled water for drinking and cooking; boiling may not make the water safe
- Do not use: do not use tap water for any purpose until officials say it is safe
- During any advisory, avoid refrigerator water and ice connected to the affected water line
Make these changes as soon as the advisory begins
Put a short note near the kitchen and bathroom faucets so nobody uses the water by habit. Tell household members, caregivers, guests, and anyone preparing food. Move safe water where children and adults can reach it without confusing it with untreated tap water.
Stop using ice, refrigerator dispensers, beverage machines, and other appliances connected to the affected line. Discard ice and drinks made with tap water during the affected period. Use bottled or properly boiled water for drinking, cooking, preparing food, washing produce, brushing teeth, making ice, and mixing drinks.
- Save or photograph the official notice and the water utility contact number
- Label one clean container for cooled boiled water
- Place safe water beside medication, pet bowls, and toothbrushing supplies
- Use ready-to-eat food when boiling water or washing dishes would be difficult
- Check on neighbors or relatives who may not receive digital alerts when it is safe to do so
How to boil tap water safely
CDC guidance says to bring clear water to a full rolling boil for one minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes. Let the water cool naturally, then store it in a clean, sanitized container with a tight cover. Follow a different time if your local notice specifically instructs you to do so.
If the water is cloudy, let particles settle or filter the water through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter before boiling. A normal pitcher, refrigerator, or under-sink filter does not replace boiling during an advisory unless the local notice and the filter manufacturer specifically say that system is appropriate for the identified problem.
- Use a stable pot and protect children and pets from hot water and steam
- Do not add ice made from the affected water to cool boiled water
- Do not use water from a home heating radiator or boiler for drinking, cooking, or hygiene
- If officials suspect fuel, chemicals, toxins, or radioactive material, use a different safe source instead of boiling
What you can do with tap water during a boil-water advisory
CDC says that in many cases people can wash hands with tap water and soap during a boil-water advisory, but the local notice should decide. Laundry is generally safe as usual. Adults and older children can often bathe or shower if they avoid swallowing water; a sponge bath can reduce the chance that babies and young children swallow it.
Dishwashers are generally safe when they have a sanitizing cycle or the final rinse reaches at least 150°F (66°C). Check the manual or manufacturer rather than assuming. If that is not available, disposable dishes can reduce water use. CDC also provides a specific hand-washing and bleach-sanitizing method for dishes; follow the current official directions exactly and keep bleach away from children, pets, food, and incompatible cleaners.
- Brush teeth only with commercially bottled or properly boiled and cooled water
- Give pets commercially bottled or properly boiled and cooled water
- Use ready-to-use infant formula when possible; follow local and health-care guidance
- Sanitize baby bottles according to current CDC guidance
- Tap water can generally be used for houseplants and gardens during a boil-water advisory
Plan around medication, babies, pets, mobility, and caregiving
Put safe water next to the routines that cannot be skipped. Anyone mixing medicine, preparing formula, cleaning feeding equipment, assisting with oral care, or filling a pet bowl should know which water to use. If a medicine, feeding product, or medical device needs water and the instructions are unclear, call the pharmacist, clinician, manufacturer, or equipment supplier.
Carrying and boiling water can create extra risk for people with limited strength, balance, vision, mobility, or dexterity. Use smaller containers, a stable work surface, and help from a trusted person when available. A plan that prevents burns, spills, and falls is as important as the water itself.
- Write a simple safe-water note for caregivers and visiting helpers
- Keep a separate cooled supply for pets and service animals
- Use smaller, manageable containers instead of overfilling a heavy pot
- Choose ready-to-use formula when possible during the advisory
- Ask for help early if obtaining or safely preparing water is difficult
If the water advisory happens during a power outage
Use unopened bottled water or a stored emergency water supply first if you cannot safely boil water. CDC recommends storing at least one gallon per person per day for three days and trying for a two-week supply when possible, with more for pregnancy, illness, pets, and hot climates.
Never move a grill, camp stove, generator, or other fuel-burning equipment indoors to boil water or make electricity. Follow the product instructions and current fire-safety guidance. If you do not have a safe heat source or enough safe water, use official distribution points, shelters, trusted family, or local assistance rather than improvising indoors.
- Keep commercially bottled water where outages will not block access
- Store water in food-grade containers away from fuel, pesticides, heat, and sunlight
- Include drinking water for medication, pets, and service animals
- Use flashlights instead of carrying hot water through a dark room
When the advisory is lifted, follow the system's reset instructions
Do not return to normal use because the water looks or smells normal. Wait for an official all-clear from the utility or public-health agency. The system may tell you to flush cold-water faucets, clean aerators, discard ice, replace filters, or flush refrigerator dispensers and other connected appliances.
Flushing instructions vary by incident and plumbing system, so use the directions issued for your address. Update your household notes after the event: how much water you used, which containers were manageable, how you received the notice, and which routines were hardest to maintain.
- Save the official all-clear before removing faucet reminders
- Follow utility and manufacturer directions for filters and appliances
- Discard affected ice and make a fresh batch only after the system is cleared
- Restock bottled water and sanitize storage containers as needed
- Add the water utility and local health department to your household contact plan
Common questions
Food and Water FAQ
Can I brush my teeth with tap water during a boil-water advisory?
No. CDC guidance says to brush your teeth with commercially bottled water or tap water that has been properly boiled and cooled. Do not use untreated tap water until the advisory is lifted.
Does a water filter make tap water safe during a boil-water advisory?
Do not assume it does. CDC says to boil tap water even if it passes through a home filter or filter pitcher. Follow the exact local notice and the filter manufacturer's instructions for the identified contaminant.
Can I shower during a boil-water advisory?
CDC says bathing and showering are often allowed during a boil-water advisory if you avoid swallowing water. Use extra caution with babies and young children; a sponge bath can reduce accidental swallowing. Follow local instructions because notices can differ.
Can I use my dishwasher during a boil-water advisory?
CDC says dishwashers are generally safe if they use a sanitizing cycle or reach at least 150°F (66°C) during the final rinse. Check the appliance manual or manufacturer and follow local instructions.
Can pets drink tap water during a boil-water advisory?
No. Give pets commercially bottled water or tap water that has been properly boiled and allowed to cool. Pets can become sick from some of the same germs as people.
When can I use my refrigerator water and ice again?
Wait for the official all-clear, then follow your water system's and appliance manufacturer's directions. You may need to discard ice, flush the dispenser, and replace or service filters before returning to normal use.
Is a boil-water advisory the same as a do-not-drink advisory?
No. Boil-water advisories usually address germs that boiling can kill. Do-not-drink advisories may involve chemicals or toxins that boiling will not remove. A do-not-use advisory means tap water should not be used for any purpose. Follow the exact notice issued for your area.
Do this today
Your next three steps
- 1Save your water utility's alert page and phone number
- 2Store at least the first three-day supply of safe water your household can manage
- 3Write a one-page boil-water routine for teeth, food, medication, babies, and pets
SWC provides general education. During an active emergency, follow local officials and the appropriate authorities.