Protect yourself during a Do Not Use Water notice
How to find another source of water and what to do when a Do Not Use Water notice is lifted.
It is not safe to use tap water for any purpose when a Do Not Use Water notice is in place. A Do Not Use Water notice is issued when water is or might be contaminated by something that is unsafe to be in contact with. Water should not be swallowed, and it might be dangerous to get water on your skin or in your eyes.
You will need to find a new supply of water, like commercially bottled water or water from a water carrier/tanker.
Boiling water will not make it safe to use.
Find safe water
When a Do Not Use Water notice is issued, you will need to find a new supply of safe water. Commercially bottled water or water from a registered water carrier/tanker are common options. Your water supplier might provide these for you.
When collecting water from a water carrier/tanker, use clean suitable containers. If you don’t have water containers in your emergency kit, you can use clean soft-drink bottles. Milk bottles are not recommended because they can be hard to sanitise. Make sure you have enough water for drinking, personal hygiene and washing dishes.
What to do when a Do Not Use Water notice is lifted
When a Do Not Use Water notice is lifted, there are a few things to do before it is safe to use your water normally again. If you are on a trickle-feed supply or have a water tank, you will need to manage your tank first.
Manage water tanks and trickle-feed supplies
If you have a trickle-feed supply or store water in a tank, tanks need to be cleaned first before flushing taps and appliances. Drain your tank, rinse it with safe water and then refill it. This makes sure there are no harmful chemicals or toxins still in the tank.
Flush taps and appliances
Before it is safe to use water from your tap or tanks, you will need to:
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run all cold taps for five minutes to flush out any contaminated water
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run clean water through appliances like coffee machines, water dispensers and ice machines
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empty and refill any header or hot water tanks used for drinking water
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maintain any water filters according to the manufacturer's advice.
Test water for peace of mind
Having a sample of tap water tested by an accredited laboratory is the best way to ensure the level of chemicals/toxins is safe.