Boil and Wastewater Notices and Information

Water Utilities and Wastewater Information

• Please contact your municipality for current information.

Boil Water Notices

• Please contact your municipality for current information.

Drinking water Information: Before and After the Storm

Before the storm

• Store a supply of drinking water before the storm – at least one gallon per person per day, preferably for two weeks.
• To store water, use food-grade containers. Clean, airtight containers such as two-liter soda jugs can be filled with drinking water. Sterilize containers by sponging and swabbing them with unscented bleach. Rinse well and dry. Milk containers should not be used as they are difficult to clean thoroughly and don't have an airtight seal.
• If re-use disposable plastic bottles, do not keep them for more than a month.
• Sterilize the bathtub in the same manner as containers. Water stored in the tub should be used for washing and flushing the toilet.
• Purchase water purifying tablets, generally available from a local pharmacy.

After the storm

• Listen to local news bulletins to determine if there is a boil-water order in effect for your area.
• If a boil-water notice is issued, do not give water from the faucet to humans or pets or use it for washing, cleaning, cooking, brushing teeth, or making ice or formula. Bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking, cooking or ice-making. It is not necessary to boil water for showering or other external uses.
• Restrict the use of running water until power is restored to all areas. During power outages, lift stations that normally pump raw sewage/wastewater may not be operating if they are not powered by a generator. In these cases, the system can eventually back up into your street or showers, toilets and sink drains inside your home.
• Engage in safe hygiene practices to sanitize hands.
• If the water quality is questionable, there are three ways to disinfect it:
• Boil water at a rolling boil for one minute to kill infectious organisms.
• Use water purifying tablets (generally available from the local pharmacy), according to package directions.
• Use unscented household bleach. Add eight drops (1/8 teaspoon) of household bleach per gallon of water. Mix thoroughly. Let stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, repeat the dosage and let it stand another 30 minutes. The water will not be toxic, but it will have a chlorine odor and taste.

Private water wells 

• Remove the plug or cap from the tops of the well casing.
• Pour two quarts of bleach into the well.
• Replace plug or cap.
• Open all outlets on the system and allow water to run until the chlorine odor is noticeable.
• Allow chlorine to remain in the system at least six hours but preferably overnight, then run water from all outlets until the system is free of chlorine.