RICHMOND, Va. — A water treatment plant power outage and subsequent malfunctions in Richmond on Monday have left multiple jurisdictions under boil water advisories, including the City of Richmond, Henrico County, parts of Hanover County and Goochland County.
A boil water advisory may seem self-evident but we use tap water in so many ways that there are plenty of questions about how far to go and what does and does not need that extra step.
Generally, you can use tap water to shower and wash your hands during a boil water advisory, according to the CDC.
Below is a list of what you should NOT use tap water for during a boil water advisory from the City of Richmond:
- Do not drink tap water.
- Do not drink from water fountains in parks, or public or private buildings that receive water from the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities.
- Do not use ice made from water since the beginning of the advisory. Discard the ice and sanitize the ice machine and/or ice trays. This also applies to water and ice dispensed directly from a refrigerator.
- Do not use tap water to make drinks, juices, or fountain soft drinks.
- Do not wash your dishes using tap water – use boiled water, or use paper plates for the next few days.
- Do not wash your fruits and vegetables with tap water – use boiled or bottled water.
- Do not brush your teeth with tap water – use boiled or bottled water.
- Do not cook with tap water, unless your food will be boiled vigorously for three minutes.
The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts strongly advise that people take the following steps to prevent illness from contaminated water:
- Opt for paper plates and plastic utensils as opposed to using a dishwasher
- Cover any scratches, cuts, or open wounds when taking a shower.
- When washing dishes using boiled water, let the water cool until hands can comfortably be inserted and immerse dishes, then let them air dry.
- Alternately, bottled water can be used, or use one tablespoon of unscented bleach per gallon of clean water (no detergents). Do not use your dishwasher to wash dishes, as it uses the same public water system. “Single-use” items (paper plates, etc.) are an option.
- Do not rely on household filters that are purchased over the counter as they will not remove bacteria from the water. Most filters use carbon, and those filters do a good job of taking out taste and odors but do not take out other contaminants.
- As far as pets, the Virginia Department of Health says you can give them the water you boiled, but check with your vet to see if it's necessary.
Some jurisdictions, including the City of Richmond, are also urging citizens to conserve water to allow it to return to full pressure.
But what if you don't have power? The VDH says you can sanitize water by adding eight drops, a quarter teaspoon, to a gallon of tap water.
Stir and let it sit for 30 minutes. If the water you are using is cloudy, double the amount of bleach to a half-teaspoon.
Temporary water conservation tips:
- Eliminate or shorten shower times.
- Avoid unnecessary toilet flushes,
- Avoid washing clothes for as long as possible.
- Postpone washing dishes if possible.
- Check all faucets, showerheads and under cabinets for drips.
For more answers to the VDH's frequently asked questions, click here.
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