Use commercially bottled water when officials direct you to do so. When a boil-water advisory applies to germs, CDC guidance says clear water can be brought to a rolling boil for one minute and then cooled in a clean covered container. Boiling does not remove chemicals, toxins or salt, so a do-not-drink advisory requires different action.
Start with these checks
A quick household checklist
01Read whether the notice says boil, do not drink or do not use
02Prefer bottled water when officials direct it
03Know that boiling addresses germs—not chemicals or salt
04Use only methods appropriate to the known problem
05Store treated water in a clean covered container
01
First identify the advisory
A boil-water advisory concerns germs that boiling can kill. A do-not-drink advisory can involve chemicals or toxins and calls for commercially bottled water for drinking and cooking. A do-not-use advisory means avoiding tap-water contact altogether. These messages are not interchangeable.
Follow the exact instructions from the local utility, health department or emergency authority. A countertop filter or familiar home routine should never replace an official warning.
02
Understand the limits of each method
Boiling is the best method for killing disease-causing organisms in water, but it does not remove chemical contamination. Filters vary widely: some remove certain germs or particles while others do not. Disinfection products require exact label and public-health instructions.
Cloudy water may need to settle and be filtered through a clean cloth before the official treatment step. Never guess at chemical amounts, combine treatment chemicals or use scented products.
Find the advisory on an official local source.
Write down the affected uses and the end time if provided.
Use bottled water if the notice says do not drink.
Follow CDC or local instructions exactly rather than improvising.
Wait for authorities to lift the advisory before returning to normal use.
03
Protect the clean supply after treatment
Clean hands, scoops, lids and storage containers matter after treatment. Keep prepared water covered and away from untreated water, dirty hoses, animal buckets and chemicals.
This guide is a learning aid, not a real-time water advisory. During an incident, the official notice for your location controls.
Official supporting sources
Verify the details at the source
These links support the general information on this page. During a real incident, find the newest instructions for your exact location.
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General educational information—not real-time emergency instruction
This page shares general information and the way our family thinks about preparedness. Conditions and official instructions change. During an emergency, follow current local authorities and qualified professionals. This is not individualized medical, veterinary, legal, electrical or emergency-management advice.
