If DPW issues a boil water advisory, please follow the safety steps listed here during the advisory period. 

Once the advisory is lifted, there are additional safety steps you must follow to flush your water taps and clean any appliances that use tap water. 

What is a boil water advisory?

A boil water advisory is a health and safety alert. Water is likely not safe to drink without taking extra safety steps. You should boil tap water before consuming it or use bottled water instead. 

Follow CDC guidance during the advisory period.

What are the reasons for a boil water advisory?

A boil water advisory is issued when harmful germs (e.g., E. coli bacteria, Giardia parasite) may be in the drinking water supply. Drinking water contaminated with these germs can make people and animals very sick. 

Boiling your tap water for one minute will kill the germs and make the water safe to drink.

E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of humans and some animals. While most types of E. coli are harmless, some may cause disease. The presence of E. coli indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste. 

If consumed, the bacteria can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for babies, young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

Boiling kills bacteria and germs in your water

Boil tap water even if it is filtered. When boiling water, take care to avoid burns or scalds by letting the water cool down before using it or storing it. Store your boiled water in a clean container with a cover. 

You can boil water on the stove or in a microwave 

You want to bring your water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. This is a very active boil with large bubbles of water active and churning. If using a microwave, you also need to have a rolling boil—microwaving it for several minutes does not make it safe to drink. 

When using a microwave, you will need to put a wooden or non-metallic item in the water to prevent it from superheating. Superheated water can burn or scald you if you aren’t careful. Let the water cool completely before removing it from the microwave. 

Bottled water is safe to use

Water distribution sites have been discontinued. Older adults and homebound residents can call 311 for assistance in locating bottled water supplies.

Do not use tap water for:

When a boil water advisory has been issued, do not use your tap water for these things:

• Drinking
• Washing your hands
• Brushing your teeth
• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Preparing baby food and formula
• Taking oral medication, or rinsing off medical equipment when tap water is normally used
• Making ice
• Giving to pets
• Washing dishes
• Preparing food or meals for you, your family, or pets

Use bottled, boiled, or disinfected water to make coffee and ice and to prepare or cook food during the boil water advisory. 

You can use tap water for:

• Showering, bathing, or shaving - You must take care not to swallow the water. Be extra careful with babies, small children, the elderly, or if you are sick or have an open wound that might come in contact with the tap water.
• Doing laundry 
• Watering a garden or house plants

Throw these things away during a boil water advisory:

Remember, if in doubt, throw it out!

• Discard all stored tap water, drinks, or ice made recently
• Do not drink or use water from home appliances that connect to your water supply lines
  • Water or ice dispenser in refrigerator or freezer
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee maker
  • Soda dispenser
• Any food that may be washed by or made with tap water during the time of the boil water advisory.

Special instructions for schools

What steps must a school take when a boil water advisory is issued?

• Safe water must be provided for students and staff
• Signs should be posted at all faucets, including the entrance, kitchen area, and bathrooms to remind people about the boil water advisory and not to drink the water
• Turn off or disconnect all drinking fountains
• Discard all ice or drinks made recently with tap water
• Use bottled water or water from an approved water supply and soap to wash your hands during a boil water advisory
• You can make a temporary hand washing station by using a five gallon container with a spigot and a five gallon or greater bucket for water collection. See instructions for creating a temporary water jug
• When soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content

Special instructions for food facilities

Please review the Baltimore City Health Department factsheet for Food Facilities Under a Boil Water Advisory.

• If you are preparing or serving food to the general public, use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food
• If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. After boiling, allow the water to cool before use
• Boil tap water even if it is filtered
• Coffee makers, ice machines, or water or soda dispensers:
  • Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water lines. This includes the water and ice dispensers in your refrigerator/freezer
  • Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or icemakers
  • Throw out all ice previously made with tap water
  • Use bottled, boiled, or disinfected water to make coffee and ice
  • When the boil water advisory is lifted, consult the manufacturer and/or manual to find out how to sanitize appliances

Preparing food and beverages & food preparation surfaces

• Wash fruits and vegetables with bottled, boiled, or disinfected water
• Use bottled or boiled water that has cooled to cook food
• Wash food preparation surfaces with bottled, boiled, or disinfected water
• Handwashing - use bottled or boiled water to wash your hands
• Washing dishes: If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory. Dishwashers generally are safe to use if:
  • The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle
• To wash dishes by hand:
  • Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water
  • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water
  • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute
  •  Let the dishes air dry completely before using again

After a boil water advisory has ended

Residents should take the following steps after the boil water advisory has ended:

• Run all cold water taps for fifteen (15) minutes
• If you have a single-lever faucet, set it to run cold water
• Begin with the lowest faucet in your home or business and then open the other faucets one at a time, moving from your lowest floor to your highest
•  After fifteen (15) minutes, turn off your faucets in reverse order, from highest to lowest
• Apartment buildings and multi-story buildings should notify all residents and occupants about how to flush their water taps by starting with the closest tap to the water connection and then moving outward
• You should also flush your refrigerator's water lines. Contact the manufacturer or read the appliance manual to find out how to do this
• All ice made since the boil water advisory was put in place should be thrown out, as well as the next three batches
• Ice maker containers should be wiped clean with a solution of two tablespoons bleach to one gallon of water, and allowed to air dry before being used

Report any issues after a boil advisory has been lifted

If you have any problems after running your taps clear and sanitizing any appliances that connect to your water lines, please call 311. Water customers outside of Baltimore City may dial 410-396-5352 for help.

Resources

• CDC Guidance for Boil Water Advisory
• School Flushing Information
• Preventing Water Quality Problems - Reopening Buildings
• Fact Sheet Boil Water Advisory