Notices

Boil Water Advisory

If local officials issue a boil water advisory, use commercially bottled water or boil your tap water.

Boil water advisories usually include the advice below.

Boiling water

If commercially bottled water is not available, boil your tap water. To kill germs, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. To avoid burns, allow boiled water to cool before you use it.

Boil your tap water even if you filter it. For example, still boil tap water if it has been through a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water.

Drinking and cooking

Use commercially bottled water or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.

Breastfeeding is the best option for feeding an infant. If you feed your child formula, provide ready-to-use formula if possible.

Handwashing

In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash your hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the advice from your local officials.

Bathing and showering

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.

Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brushing teeth

Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.

Washing dishes

If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.

Sanitize all baby bottles.

Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). Check the manual or contact the manufacturer to find out what temperature your dishwater reaches.

To wash dishes by hand:

Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
Let the dishes air dry completely before using them again.

Laundry

It is safe to wash clothes as usual.

Cleaning

Clean washable toys and surfaces with:

Commercially bottled water,
Boiled water, or
Water that has been disinfected with bleach

Caring for pets

Give pets commercially bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people.

Caring for your garden and houseplants

You can use tap water for houseplants and gardens, including watering plants you eat.

Conservation Tips

There are a number of easy ways to save water, and they all start with YOU. When you save water, you save money on your utility bills. Here are just a few ways...

WATER SAVING TIPS

Nearly twice as much water is used in the summer months as in winter months, with lawn watering being the biggest reason for the increase.
Here are some tips for indoor and outdoor conservation that may contribute to lower water consumption and a lower water bill for you!

INSIDE THE HOUSE

Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank, but do not flush the toilet. Watch to see if the coloring appears in the bowl within a few minutes. If it does, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired.
When brushing teeth, turn the water off until it’s time to rinse.
Only run your dishwasher and clothes washer when you have a full load.
Use a small pan of cold water when washing vegetables, rather than letting the water run over them.
Steam vegetables, rather than boiling – steaming uses less water.
Check often for water leaks. Turn off all water-using appliances and indoor and outdoor faucets, and then check the leak-detector triangle on your meter. If it is turning even slightly, water is leaking out somewhere.

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

Water only when needed. Look at the grass, feel the soil, or use a soil moisture meter to determine when to water.
Do not over-water. Soil can absorb only so much moisture, and the rest simply runs off. One and a half inches of water applied once a week in the summer will keep most Texas grasses alive and healthy.
Water lawns early in the morning during the hotter summer months. Otherwise, much of the water can simply evaporate before it ever hits the ground.
Avoid misting sprinklers – the water has a greater tendency to evaporate with misters.
Set automatic sprinklers to provide thorough, but infrequent watering. Rain shutoff devices can prevent watering in the rain.
Use drip irrigation systems for bedded plants to avoid evaporation.
Do not scalp lawns when mowing during hot weather. Taller grass holds moisture better.
Use water-wise plants. Choose plants that have low water requirements, are drought-tolerant, and are adapted to the area of the state where they are to be planted.
When washing the car, use a bucket of soapy water and turn on the hose only for rinsing.
Remove weeds before they get large. They not only look bad but are also water thieves, stealing precious water from desirable plants.
Mulch around trees and gardens to discourage weed growth and reduce evaporation.
Make the most of rainfall. Dig ditches to plants under roof eaves to allow rainwater to irrigate them. A deep moisture reserve can sometimes carry them through several weeks before more water is needed.