Read the exact water notice before boiling anything

Before using tap water, read the notice closely. Check the water-system name, affected area, date, and exact title. For a Boil Water notice, use bottled water or boil tap water. Bring it to a rolling boil for 1 minute, then let it cool. Use that water for drinking, brushing teeth, and making food until the system lifts the notice. For bathing, dishes, pets, ice, and other uses, follow the notice or call the system.

A Do Not Drink notice means boiling or disinfecting the water will not make it safe to drink. A Do Not Use notice means contact with the water may be unsafe. A Do Not Drink/Do Not Boil notice may involve contaminants whose vapors become more dangerous when heated. Under any of these notices, do not boil the water unless the water system clearly tells you to.

Keep following the safety steps until the water system sends an official cancellation or problem-corrected notice. An annual Consumer Confidence Report covers routine water quality. It does not cancel an active emergency notice.