Staying well during a boil water notice

Activity

How to stay well

Cleaning fruit and veges

Fruit and vegetables should be washed using cooled, boiled water, water treated with plain unscented bleach or commercially bottled water.

Boiling food to eat, or using water in your cooking

Any water used for preparing food or cooking needs to be treated first by boiling or adding bleach.  

If you’re boiling food to eat: it’s safer to treat the water first (boil or add bleach) in case the water does not reach a high enough temperature during cooking. 

Feeding babies

If breastfeeding, continue as usual. If you are using infant formula, prepare using commercially bottled or cooled, boiled water.

Wash and sterilise bottles and teats in boiling water or use sterilisation tablets and follow manufacturer’s instructions.

Watering your vegetable garden

Vege gardens should be watered with treated water to prevent contaminating garden produce.

Activity

How to stay well

Drinking water

Drinking water must be treated or commercially bottled.

Find out more about how to treat contaminated water to make it safe to drink

Using a water filter

Filtered water does not destroy bugs that can make people sick.  

Filtered water should be treated by boiling or adding bleach before using it for drinking, preparing food, cooking, making up infant formula, handwashing, and cleaning teeth. 

Using a coffee or soda machine

Coffee machines, soda machines and ice makers that are connected to the water supply should not be used. 

Use boiled water, water treated with plain unscented bleach or commercially bottled water for making coffee, soda drinks or ice.

Making ice

Ice makers that are connected to the water supply should not be used.

Treated water should be used when making ice in a tray in the freezer.

Activity

How to stay well

Washing dishes by hand

Dishes can be washed by hand using boiled water and detergent.

If you are unable to boil your water, dishes washed with contaminated tap water and detergent should be rinsed in bleach solution. (1/4 cup of plain unscented household bleach per 10 litres of water).

Allow dishes to completely air dry. 

Using a dishwasher

Household dishwashers are generally safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 65°c or if the dishwasher has a sanitising cycle. 

Activity

Water to use to stay well

Showering and bathing

Adults and older children may shower or bathe with untreated water as long as no water is swallowed (avoid the face).

Young children should be sponge-bathed instead of bathing in a tub because they are likely to swallow the bath water.

If you have recent surgical wounds or a chronic illness, you may want to use bottled or boiled water for bathing until the notice is lifted. 

You can use water from the hot water cylinder, header tank and toilet cistern (if no chemical toilet cleanser is present) to wash yourself.

Washing your hands

Keeping hands clean during an emergency helps prevent the spread of bugs that can make people sick.

If your tap water is not safe to use, wash your hands with soap and either commercially bottled water, cooled boiled water or water that has been treated by adding unscented bleach. Wash your hands well.

If water is in very short supply, keep some in a bowl with disinfectant added, but change frequently. 

Brushing your teeth

Only use commercially bottled water, water that has been boiled or water that has been treated by adding plain unscented bleach for brushing your teeth.  

Shaving

You can shave as usual using tap water. 

Laundry

You can continue doing your laundry the way you usually do.

Animal

Water to use to stay well

Cats, dogs and other mammals

Pets can usually drink untreated water.  If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian. 

Fish and aquatic pets, like reptiles and frogs

Most bugs that infect people do not infect reptiles or fish. Be cautious about changing the water in your fish tank or aquarium if the water has different treatment (e.g. more chlorine being added or new treatment added). Contact your local pet store or veterinarian for more advice.

Livestock

Livestock can usually drink untreated water.  If you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian.