🚱 Water outage or do-not-drink notice: what to do, step by step

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It may be due to a burst main, drought or contamination of the supply. If there's a boil-water notice, tap water isn't safe without treatment.

Open the guide in the app (works offline)

Before

  1. Store about 3 L per person per day (the calculator tells you the total) and rotate it every 6 months.
  2. Find your home's main water shutoff valve.

During

  1. Use the stored water first for drinking and cooking. For the toilet, reuse dishwater or bathwater.
  2. There's usable water at home: in the water heater tank (with the power off, open the tap at the bottom) and in the toilet tank if it has no cleaning products in it. Make it safe before drinking it.
  3. If there's a boil-water notice: boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 2,000 m / 6,500 ft) or use suitable bleach: 2 drops per liter and a 30-minute wait.
  4. Wash your hands with a little water and hand sanitizer. Without water, the risk of diarrhea rises sharply.

After

  1. When the water comes back, run the cold tap for a few minutes until it runs clear.
  2. Keep treating the water until the authorities lift the notice.

What you need for this emergency

See the full kit: Safe water kit →

Figures and sources

Other emergencies