A Boil Water Advisory is a precautionary measure made to the public advising everyone in the affected area to boil tap water before using it for bathing, drinking, making ice cubes, washing dishes and laundry. An advisory does not necessarily mean that the tap water is contaminated, it only means that the water ‘could be contaminated’ and therefore precautionary measures must be taken. Note, Boil Water Notices are different from an advisory; they are issued when contamination in the water system is confirmed. In the case of either a Boil Water Advisory or a Boil Water Notice, Lishtot’s water tester is a fast, efficient way to get more information about the condition of your water.
During an advisory, a public statement is released to let people know that there is a problem that can potentially contaminate the water distribution system such as a water main break, loss of system pressure, bacteria, sewage leak, chemical/oil/gas spill, software issue or a natural disaster like a hurricane. In the event that the boil water advisory is widespread, public utilities will make use of available media such as radio, social media, emails, website, phone calls and television to inform the public. Boil Water Advisories will remain in effect for at least 18-24 hours until test samples show that water is safe to drink or use. During this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that water be brought to a rolling boil for one minute before it is consumed in order to kill protozoa, bacteria and viruses. (At altitudes above 2,000 meters (6,561 feet), boiling should be extended to 3 minutes, as the lower boiling point at high altitudes requires more time to kill such organisms.) The heat source should then be turned off and the water allowed to cool. The water should be poured into a clean container with a cover for storage. For more information on what to do during a Boil Water Advisory, please see http://www.boilwaterwatch.org/index.php/2017/03/06/what-to-do-during-a-boil-water-advisory/.
Customers will be advised when a boil water advisory has been lifted and it is safe to use tap water again. Customers affected need to flush or disinfect their pipes, water filters, and anything that comes into contact with their drinking water before using water again regularly. For more information on what to do once a Boil Water Advisory has been lifted, please see http://www.boilwaterwatch.org/index.php/2017/03/06/post-water-boil-advisory-tips/ .
In the event of a Boil Water Advisory, our personal water tester, the TestDrop Pro, can empower you with a fuller picture of conditions in your area. How exactly can the TestDrop Pro help in the case of an advisory? Here are examples. First, while it takes at least 24 hours (with an average closer to 36 hours) from the time bacteria is sampled in water until it is announced to the public, the TestDrop can detect bacterial contamination in just two seconds. On the flip side, it can take many hours of testing for a boil water advisory to be lifted while the TestDrop Pro can let you know instantly. In addition, often boil water advisories occur only because of a drop in pressure in the system while, in fact, the water is still safe to drink. In such a situation, the TestDrop Pro will allow the consumer to verify the status of their water.
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