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Get informed.
Find your state health department’s website. Many of them have information about “boil water” advisories. (Here are examples from Ohio and Mississippi.) Also reach out to your local water utility and ask them how you can sign up for text messages when new advisories take effect.
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Have a strategy for dealing with contaminated tap water in your home before you need it.
This might include an inexpensive package of water testing strips and cases of bottled water in a closet or your garage. A good rule to follow for drinking and hygiene, according to the federal government, is 1 gallon of water (that’s 8 half-liter bottles) per person, per day. Have enough on hand for at least three days, and make it purified water — not spring water.
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Follow EPA guidance.
If you find yourself in a “boil water” advisory because of lead contamination, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends getting water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute before using it for drinking or cooking. You can use your tap water for showering, baths, shaving, and washing — but only if you can be sure it won’t get into your eyes, nose, or mouth. (Be extra careful if you’re bathing children or elderly family members.)
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Reach out to your local school.
If you’re a parent, ask your child’s school for information about where their tap water comes from, whether the building is served by lead pipes, and how often they replace the filters on drinking fountains. If there are lead pipes, share with them the EPA’s advice: “flushing” their water system periodically by leaving every tap in the building open for a short time. This clears out water that has been in contact with lead pipes for days at a time — like, for instance, over a long weekend or winter break.
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Have a family plan.
If you have close relatives who live between 1 and 5 hours away by car, be each other’s lifeline. If your tap water is unsafe to drink, theirs could be just fine — and vice-versa.
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FEMA is a resource.
Know how to reach the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) office whose territory includes your state. In a severe water emergency caused by hurricanes, earthquakes or large fires, they can be one source of support and supplies.
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Advocate for you and your family.
Tell your state legislators, your mayor, or your county board representative that safe tap water is important to you, and that you expect them to engage with your community whenever a “boil water” advisory is issued.