What You Need to Know About Drinking Water Following a Hurricane

Flooded public and private wells, flooded treatment plants and pressure losses from broken lines and lost electrical power greatly increase the risk from contaminated water. If you lose power, conserve water until you know your water system is up and running.

State and local officials will notify the public, through the media, of affected counties, areas and water systems. Notices when issues are resolved will also be issued. Once notified of the need to boil water or used bottled water, residents in affected areas should continue to boil or disinfect their water or use alternate supplies until samples taken show the water to be safe.

If advised, boil water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice and washing hands.

• Boil for one minute, or use bottled or stored water. Boiling water concentrates any levels of nitrates that may be present in the water.
• Young infants and pregnant women should use bottled or stored water instead of boiled tap water whenever possible for drinking and cooking.

If you cannot boil the water, disinfect the water by adding plain household bleach (which is 4 - 6 percent chlorine) using a quarter of a teaspoon, or 16 drops, of bleach per gallon, shake and let stand for 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat the procedure. If you do not have bottled water available for pregnant women and infants, it is better for them to drink boiled water than to drink water that is not boiled and may be contaminated. It is important not to become dehydrated.