Boil Orders
Boil orders or advisories are public announcements advising the public that they should boil their tap water for drinking and other human consumption uses like cooking, hand washing, brushing teeth, etc.
Boil orders are preventative measures issued to protect public health from waterborne infectious agents that could be or are known to be present in drinking water.
Why is a Boil Order Issued?
Boil orders can be issued for any number of reasons.
The most common reason is that nearby work on a water main required that the water be temporarily shut down, which could allow for a contaminate to enter the pipe. However, in an extraordinary event, a larger order may be issued if the water system loses pressure or a contaminant is discovered that requires a boil order.
When a Boil Order is in Effect...
Customers should boil any water that will be used for direct human consumption for 5 minutes prior to consumption.
These precautionary boil orders are issued when water system pressure falls below 20 PSI due to repairs and/or operational problems.
All affected customers are notified when a boil order is placed in effect.
Boil orders remain in effect until bacteriological testing confirms the safety of the drinking water.
A minimum of 24 hours is required to complete the laboratory testing.
When a Boil Order is Lifted...
Boil orders are lifted after bacteriological testing confirms the safety of the drinking water.
All effected customers are notified when a boil order has been lifted in the same manner as the original notification.
You will receive notification about the order being lifted as soon as possible regardless of whether or not it is during regular work hours.
Boil orders are issued as a precautionary measure with our customer's health and safety in mind.
Flushing means letting the water run to ensure that no contaminated water or exposure to any lead that may have been released remains in your pipes.
Lead contamination may occur when water passes through a municipal service line into a resident's private plumbing system, where plumbing fixtures or pipe include lead or copper pipe with a lead solder. This can permit lead to leach into the home's water supply if water is left standing in the pipes for several hours.
Follow these guidelines for flushing...
Boil orders are preventative measures issued to protect public health from waterborne infectious agents that could be or are known to be present in drinking water.
Why is a Boil Order Issued?
Boil orders can be issued for any number of reasons.
The most common reason is that nearby work on a water main required that the water be temporarily shut down, which could allow for a contaminate to enter the pipe. However, in an extraordinary event, a larger order may be issued if the water system loses pressure or a contaminant is discovered that requires a boil order.
When a Boil Order is in Effect...
Customers should boil any water that will be used for direct human consumption for 5 minutes prior to consumption.
These precautionary boil orders are issued when water system pressure falls below 20 PSI due to repairs and/or operational problems.
All affected customers are notified when a boil order is placed in effect.
Boil orders remain in effect until bacteriological testing confirms the safety of the drinking water.
A minimum of 24 hours is required to complete the laboratory testing.
When a Boil Order is Lifted...
Boil orders are lifted after bacteriological testing confirms the safety of the drinking water.
All effected customers are notified when a boil order has been lifted in the same manner as the original notification.
You will receive notification about the order being lifted as soon as possible regardless of whether or not it is during regular work hours.
Boil orders are issued as a precautionary measure with our customer's health and safety in mind.
When a Boil Order is Lifted, What Should I Do?
In the event of a mandatory boil water notice, you should flush household pipes, ice makers, water fountains, etc. prior to using for drinking or cooking.Flushing means letting the water run to ensure that no contaminated water or exposure to any lead that may have been released remains in your pipes.
Lead contamination may occur when water passes through a municipal service line into a resident's private plumbing system, where plumbing fixtures or pipe include lead or copper pipe with a lead solder. This can permit lead to leach into the home's water supply if water is left standing in the pipes for several hours.
Follow these guidelines for flushing...
- Remove faucet aerators from all cold water taps in the home.
- Beginning at the lowest level of the home, fully open the cold water taps throughout the home.
- Let the water run for at least 5 minutes at the last tap you opened (top floor).
- Turn off each tap starting with the taps at the highest level of the home. Be sure to run water in bathtubs and showers as well as faucets.
- Do not consume tap water, open hot water faucets, or use icemaker or filtered water dispenser until after flushing is complete.