For the public

Staying well during a boil water notice

Water is essential. We all use it for drinking, preparing food, cleaning, and maintaining our hygiene.

Occasionally your drinking water supplier may issue a consumer advisory like a Boil Water Notice. This means you will need to boil your water to make sure it's safe to use for things like drinking, brushing your teeth, and making infant formula.

This page contains information about what treated and untreated water can be used for when a Boil Water Notice is in place.

Treated water is water that has been commercially bottled, boiled, or treated in another way. Find out more.
Untreated water is water from the tap or another source that may be contaminated while the boil water notice is in place.

Food and drinks

Food

Activity	How to stay well
Cleaning fruit and veges	Fruit and vegetables should be washed using cooled, boiled water, water treated with plain unscented bleach or commercially bottled water.
Boiling food to eat, or using water in your cooking	Any water used for preparing food or cooking needs to be treated first by boiling or adding bleach.  If you’re boiling food to eat: it’s safer to treat the water first (boil or add bleach) in case the water does not reach a high enough temperature during cooking.
Feeding babies	If breastfeeding, continue as usual. If you are using infant formula, prepare using commercially bottled or cooled, boiled water. Wash and sterilise bottles and teats in boiling water or use sterilisation tablets and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Watering your vegetable garden	Vege gardens should be watered with treated water to prevent contaminating garden produce.

Drinks

Activity	How to stay well
Drinking water	Drinking water must be treated or commercially bottled. Find out more about how to treat contaminated water to make it safe to drink
Using a water filter	Filtered water does not destroy bugs that can make people sick.   Filtered water should be treated by boiling or adding bleach before using it for drinking, preparing food, cooking, making up infant formula, handwashing, and cleaning teeth.
Using a coffee or soda machine	Coffee machines, soda machines and ice makers that are connected to the water supply should not be used.  Use boiled water, water treated with plain unscented bleach or commercially bottled water for making coffee, soda drinks or ice.
Making ice	Ice makers that are connected to the water supply should not be used. Treated water should be used when making ice in a tray in the freezer.

Washing dishes

Activity

How to stay well

Washing dishes by hand

Dishes can be washed by hand using boiled water and detergent.

If you are unable to boil your water, dishes washed with contaminated tap water and detergent should be rinsed in bleach solution. (1/4 cup of plain unscented household bleach per 10 litres of water).

Allow dishes to completely air dry.

Using a dishwasher

Household dishwashers are generally safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 65°c or if the dishwasher has a sanitising cycle. 

Personal hygiene, including laundry

Activity	Water to use to stay well
Showering and bathing	Adults and older children may shower or bathe with untreated water as long as no water is swallowed (avoid the face). Young children should be sponge-bathed instead of bathing in a tub because they are likely to swallow the bath water. If you have recent surgical wounds or a chronic illness, you may want to use bottled or boiled water for bathing until the notice is lifted.  You can use water from the hot water cylinder, header tank and toilet cistern (if no chemical toilet cleanser is present) to wash yourself.
Washing your hands	Keeping hands clean during an emergency helps prevent the spread of bugs that can make people sick. If your tap water is not safe to use, wash your hands with soap and either commercially bottled water, cooled boiled water or water that has been treated by adding unscented bleach. Wash your hands well. If water is in very short supply, keep some in a bowl with disinfectant added, but change frequently.
Brushing your teeth	Only use commercially bottled water, water that has been boiled or water that has been treated by adding plain unscented bleach for brushing your teeth.
Shaving	You can shave as usual using tap water.
Laundry	You can continue doing your laundry the way you usually do.

Pets and animals

Animal	Water to use to stay well
Cats, dogs and other mammals	Pets can usually drink untreated water.  If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian.
Fish and aquatic pets, like reptiles and frogs	Most bugs that infect people do not infect reptiles or fish. Be cautious about changing the water in your fish tank or aquarium if the water has different treatment (e.g. more chlorine being added or new treatment added). Contact your local pet store or veterinarian for more advice.
Livestock	Livestock can usually drink untreated water.  If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian.