General Questions about Boil Water Advisories

Following is information provided by the Department of Health & Human Services, CDC, EPA and the American Water Works Association on boil water advisories.

FACT SHEET: What to Do During a Boil Water Advisory

Q&As About Boil Water Advisories

What to do After a Boil Water Advisory.

Additional information and links follow.

What is the difference between a Boil Water Advisory and a Boil Water Order?

A boil water advisory issued as a precautionary measure when there is a POTENTIAL for contamination. A boil water order is issued when contamination has actually been confirmed in the water system.

Do I have to boil the tap water for the following uses:
 

Drinking

Yes

Ice Cubes

Existing ice cubes should be thrown out.

Brushing Teeth

Yes

Baby's Formula

Yes

Washing Fruit/Vegetables

Yes

Preparing Food

Yes

Coffee, Tea, Lemonade, etc.

Yes

Laundry

No

Watering Grass or Garden

No, but fruits/vegetables must be washed using boiled or bottled water before consumption.
Pet consumption It might be a wise precautionary measure, but for specific information, contact your veterinarian.

How does WaterOne determine that the water is safe to drink and the boil water advisory can be lifted?

We collect numerous samples of water throughout our service area and run tests to determine that no contamination is present. It takes WaterOne a minimum of 18 hours after the sample is taken to determine the water is not contaminated.

For more information, see the following links:

Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
 Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Boil Water Advisories
Boil Water Advisory Fact Sheet from the KS Dept. of Agriculture
Food Safety Fact Sheet on Handwashing from the KS Dept. of Agriculture