What is a boil order or boil water advisory and why do they happen?
When public tap water becomes unsafe to consume, drink, or use, an announcement is made by the entities responsible for ensuring its safety, typically local governments and water districts or municipal utility companies.
These announcements are issued as a measure of public safety and often follow failures in water treatment systems. Such failures can include problems with the disinfection system, distribution lines, contamination due to water-line breaks, floods, and unscheduled power outages.
When boil water announcements are made, they often provide information regarding the cause.
What should I do during a boil water event?
Ideally, safe drinking water could be accessed from a well-managed emergency water storage, including bottled water and stored water.
If water does need to be boiled, it should be brought to a “rolling boil” for at least one minute.
For cooking and/or providing water to animals and livestock, only water that has been confirmed treated and safe should be consumed. To avoid needing water for washing dishes and utensils, use disposable cups, cutlery, napkins, and plates. If no disposable items are available, ensure cups, cutlery, and plates have been safely disinfected and sanitized prior to use.
Use only purified water to wash your hands.
Boil Order Quick-Reference Guide:
- Drinking Water: To disinfect water, bring it to a rolling boil for no less than one minute.
- Cooking: Dispose of beverage, food, and items prepared with potentially contaminated tap water prior to the boil order. Use only properly purified or bottled water until the order has been lifted. Use disposable utensils if possible.
- Hand Washing: Use properly purified or bottled water.
How should I use my Berkey® system during a boil order?
It is recommended by the CDC, EPA and other organizations that approximately sixteen drops of plain bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or iodine per gallon be added to treat the source water before purifying. Simply add the drops to a pitcher of water, wait a half hour and then pour the treated water into the top chamber of your system. The disinfectant will be removed from the treated water entirely with the Berkey® system, including any odor or taste.
*Please use only room-temperature water with your system. Using boiling water can cause damage to the elements inside the Berkey® system.
** Berkey® systems always highly recommends using the cleanest source water available, whenever possible.
