Boil Water Notices
A boil water notice is a public notification advising customers to boil tap water before consuming it. Boil water notices are issued when an event has occurred with the potential to adversely affect water quality, or a situation has occurred where there is known degradation of the water quality. There are two types of notices: the boil water advisory and the boil water order.
This is a localized public notification informing the public of a need to boil water and providing other information that the public needs. A boil water advisory is a precautionary measure and is issued even when contamination is unlikely. This is the most common type of boil water notice and is issued when the water system experiences a loss in positive water pressure, typically due to a serious main break. Loss of water pressure creates the possibility of harmful bacteria entering the pipelines. Until laboratory tests confirm the water has not been contaminated, the boil water advisory remains in effect. During a boil water advisory, SUB’s Water Division will: During a boil water advisory, customers should do the following: When under a boil water order, SUB will instruct affected customers to boil their water in order to kill bacteria and other organisms in the water. Customers should continue to boil water until SUB declares that the boil water order has been lifted. The order will be lifted only after the situation is fully resolved and laboratory tests confirm the water is no longer contaminated. During a boil water order, SUB’s Water Division will: During a boil water order, customers should do the following: Cold Water Faucets: Run all cold water faucets in your home at the same time for five full minutes with the highest water flow possible. Avoid splashing or flooding of the drains. If you have a single-lever faucet, set it to run the cold water first. Hot Water Faucets: To clear hot-water pipes and your water heater, turn on all hot water faucets (or turn your single-lever faucets to the hot position) and run for a minimum of 15 minutes for a typical household 40-gallon hot-water tank. For an 80-gallon hot water tank or larger, run water for at least 30 minutes. Hot water is then safe to use for washing hands, and for hand-washing of dishes, pots and pans, etc. Remember, SUB recommends that you never use hot water for cooking or for preparing baby formula. Always start with cold water for these purposes. Dishwashers: After flushing hot water pipes and your water heater, run your empty dishwasher one time. Filters: Change all filters located at the tap or within an appliance. Refrigerator water dispensers: Water dispensers from refrigerators should be flushed using at least one quart of water. If unsure of your dispenser’s capacity, refer to manufacturer specifications. Ice cubes: To flush the automatic ice dispensers, make three batches of ice and discard. Humidifiers: Discard any water used in humidifiers, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, and oral, medical or health care devices. Rinse devices with clean water before using. Food and baby formula: Discard baby formula and other foods prepared with water on the day(s) of the boil water notice. Water Softeners: Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines specified in the owner’s manual. Businesses located in an area where a boil water advisory or order has been issued, and that either serve the public or have employees working on site, must immediately put in place alternate procedures to provide water service: Facilities licensed by Lane County Environmental Health Licensed facilities should follow Oregon Health Authority’s Emergency Response Guidelines during a boil water advisory or order if tap water is biologically contaminated. When a boil water advisory or order is issued, a health inspector will contact the facility to ensure operations include appropriate alternative procedures. Critical Facilities Critical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes that cannot be closed must contact Lane County Public Health for assistance with operations during a boil water advisory or order. Critical facilities should immediately implement Emergency Response Guidelines for licensed facilities until a health inspector arrives. For more information about Lane County Environmental Health requirements for commercial, industrial and institutional customers, call 541-682-4480 during business hours or 541-682-4041 after hours. What does a boil water notice mean? How will I be notified of a boil water notice? How do I update my contact information? What kinds of tests are done? Why does it take so long to get test results? SANITIZING WATER I don’t like the taste of boiled water. What can I do? How does boiling water make it safe to drink? I cannot boil my water. How do I disinfect my water to make it safe to drink? If tap water is clear: If tap water is cloudy: SANITIZING CONTAINERS Never use a container to store drinking water if it previously stored milk, fruit juice or any toxic solid or liquid chemicals. If disinfected water has been stored for more than five days, follow the steps listed above to re-disinfect it before use. Should I use bottled water? FOOD AND BEVERAGES Can I use water directly from the tap for making coffee, tea, or frozen juice? What should I do about feeding my baby? Can I use my coffee maker, ice machine, and water from my refrigerator or soda dispenser? I have a water filter – doesn’t that protect me? Is it safe to use a dishwasher? HYGIENE Can I use tap water to brush my teeth? Is it safe to take a shower or bath? Can I shave? HEALTH What should I do if I have symptoms? HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION Is it safe to give pets tap water? Do I need to worry about my fish or aquatic pets (e.g., reptiles, frogs)? When I turn on the faucet, the water sputters. Why? When I turn on the faucet the water is discolored. What should I do? What should I do if my water pressure is low?The Boil Water Advisory
The Boil Water Order
Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Customers
Frequently Asked Questions on Boil Water Notices
A boil water notice means tap water should not be used for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, washing food preparation areas, nor for ice-making until tests verify the water is safe. Tests typically take 24 hours. In the meantime, tap water should be boiled to kill any microorganisms that may be present.
SUB will notify customers if a boil water notice has been issued in their area. Depending on the number of customers and the size of geographical area affected, a boil water notice will be communicated via one or more of the following methods:
Call SUB at 541-746-8451 and tell the Customer Service Representative you would like to make sure the phone number associated with your account is correct.
SUB technicians collect water samples using specific procedures that ensure accurate testing. Tests typically take 24 hours. This allows a commercial laboratory time to incubate the samples, a step that is required to grow bacteria if any are present.
How long should water be boiled?
Follow the steps below for the safest and most effective method of water disinfection.
To improve the taste of boiled water you can:
Disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites are destroyed by high, sustained heat. Boiling does not remove them from the water, but it does kill them, preventing them from causing illness.
Follow the steps below to properly disinfect water for drinking, cooking and/or brushing teeth.
Containers may need to be sanitized before using them to store disinfected water:
To sanitize containers:
You may choose to use bottled water if it is available.
What should I do about preparing food and beverages? How should I wash fruit, vegetables and food preparation surfaces?
Wash fruits and vegetables with boiled water that has cooled, or use bottled water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute before adding food to cook. Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea and lemonade. Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.
No. Water intended for drinking must be vigorously boiled for at least a full minute before being used to brew coffee or tea, or being mixed with formula, drink concentrates or juices.
Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water lines. This includes the water and ice dispensers in your refrigerator/freezer. Use boiled, bottled or disinfected water to make ice — freezing does not disinfect water. If a boil water order was issued, consult the owner’s manual to find out how to sanitize appliances after the boil order is lifted. This is not necessary for customers under a boil water advisory unless SUB notifies customers to the contrary.
Water filters in refrigerators and pitchers do not remove bacteria. For under-sink filters, read the manual or check with your installer to determine the filter’s bacteria-removal capabilities. If in doubt, boil the water.
Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F or if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.
Can I do laundry?
It is safe to wash clothes in tap water while under a boil water advisory or order.
No. Use boiled, bottled or disinfected water to brush your teeth.
Yes, it is safe to take a bath or shower, but be careful not to swallow any water. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance they might swallow water.
Yes, you can shave as usual.
What if I drank from the tap accidentally or before I learned about the boil water notice?
If you accidentally drink tap water, don’t panic – the chances of becoming ill are slim. If you do get sick, the symptoms are similar to food poisoning: nausea, diarrhea, cramps, and possibly a mild fever.
First and foremost, avoid dehydration. If symptoms occur, drink plenty of disinfected fluids to prevent dehydration. Avoid drinks with caffeine, such as soda, coffee and tea because caffeine is a diuretic and causes people to lose water. If you are concerned about your health or the health of a family member, contact your health care provider or Lane County Health and Human Services.
Can I water my plants with tap water?
Tap water is safe for house plants and outdoor irrigation of ornamental plants.
Many pets are susceptible to the same diseases as humans and can transmit the diseases to their owners’ families. Provide them with boiled or bottled water.
Most germs that infect people do not infect reptiles or fish. If you must fill your fish tank while under a boil water advisory or order, check the water’s chlorine levels, which may or may not change slightly. Contact your local pet store or veterinarian for more advice.
This is caused by air in water lines, and is likely a result of repairs SUB is making to the system. Turn on your tap slowly and run the water until the sputtering stops.
Flush water pipes by running the water until it is clear. Do not wash clothes if the water is discolored. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap. Wash a load of dark clothes first.
Check the faucet screens for trapped particles. Remove the screens and clean out any particles. Put the screens back on the faucet.