We Have Been Under A Boil Water Alert for 3 Weeks

Alligatorob said:
Yes, that should be safe, so long as you don't drink in the shower! Don't use it to brush your teeth either.

Cooking with it or making tea or coffee is ok, just so the water is boiled. As Pecos says Clorox works too, but does not taste very good. Your hot water tank water might be ok, but its not certain. You might want to turn the temperature up to maximum for a while.

Most of these alerts are in an abundance of caution, your water is probably ok, but better to be safe than sorry.

When I lived in Florida it was in a very small place near the Gulf, we got lots of boil your water alerts. Kind of a PIA, but you are being careful, you should get through it fine.
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The water commission made clear that the water is not safe. The cities are going to great expense to provide their residents with free bottled water, another indication of the unsafe condition of our drinking water. Due to my germophobia and OCD, I couldn't bring myself to drink the water, even after boiling it unless I had no other choice. Fortunately for now, I have other choices. I live in an apartment complex so I have no control over what gets done with the water tanks. @WheatenLover said it best: "Just thinking about E.coli contaminated water, in sufficient quantities to cause a boil water alert, grosses me out."

@Verisure The water commission's bulletin mentions that dishwashers that get heated to 150 degrees makes it hot enough to kill the bacteria. Also using the sanitizing feature helps with that.

@Gaer, @Kaila. @Jules, @Remy, @Shalimar, @CinnamonSugar, @SeaBreeze, @Tish Thank you for your empathy and concern❣️ Gaer...we known about those sponge aka "spit" baths! :p
@Shero I actually have facial towelettes that I use on my face. I rarely use water on my face because we have hard water here and it's rough on the skin (and fixtures). I've been able to scrub my scalp and "wash" my hair with those. My hair is very, very short...about 1 inch. You're right...I'm glad I don't have children to worry about. Since I can't wash my dark clothes with hot water and since I'm very backed up with laundry right now, my grandson is taking me to the laundromat in another town early next week. I'll wash my whites and colored clothes there and bring them home to dry in my dryer. I never hang my clothes out to dry because they dry hard and are a pain to iron (many things taken right out of the dryer need no ironing at all) and I've seen the dust that sometimes gets on cars outside so I wouldn't want that in my clothes. It's now going on 3-1/2 weeks and we don't know how much longer this will go on!

@Warrigal I'm currently filtering the water my son brings in jugs designated for drinking. I also have three cases of bottled water on hand and make ice from either one of those choices.
@MarciKS I did a couple of very small loads in my mini washer using the water my son brought which was in jugs designated for cleaning. The mini spinner spin dries better than industrial machines. I have a clothes dryer in my apartment. As mentioned above, my grandson will be taking me to a laundromat out of town next week.
@Pecos
 

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OneEyedDiva said:
Our water is contaminated with E-coli.
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FYI E-coli (Escherichia coli) is a very common bacteria. It is found almost everywhere in the environment, including our digestive systems. Both you and I (and all reading this) have live and well populations of E-coli in our bodies right now. Its also in much of our food and on most surfaces we touch regularly. Most strains of E-coli are harmless, but a few are not ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli ). This is the reason I said your water is probably safe, it probably is. However your water commission is being cautious, and you should be too, listen to the warnings and don't drink the water.

On the other hand I would not worry about washing yourself or your clothes with the water, you won't get exposed to nearly so much E-coli that way, no more than other day to day exposures.

I understand the "germophobia and OCD" things, I think we all have that to one extent or another. You should only do what you are comfortable doing. Hope this doesn't last much longer for you!

FYI my engineering education was in water treatment and I spent many years working in the field. Doesn't make me any smarter than you or your water commission folks, just gives me a bit of comfort with things others may not have. Your water commission has experts who are a lot closer to the problem than I. Follow their advice.
 
Sorry this is happening Diva, no advice for you other than to hang in there. Like you I always keep bottled water on hand as we have several water main breaks a year, nothing like you have though, that is a long time.
 

Alligatorob said:
FYI E-coli (Escherichia coli) is a very common bacteria. It is found almost everywhere in the environment, including our digestive systems. Both you and I (and all reading this) have live and well populations of E-coli in our bodies right now. Its also in much of our food and on most surfaces we touch regularly. Most strains of E-coli are harmless, but a few are not ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli ). This is the reason I said your water is probably safe, it probably is. However your water commission is being cautious, and you should be too, listen to the warnings and don't drink the water.

On the other hand I would not worry about washing yourself or your clothes with the water, you won't get exposed to nearly so much E-coli that way, no more than other day to day exposures.

I understand the "germophobia and OCD" things, I think we all have that to one extent or another. You should only do what you are comfortable doing. Hope this doesn't last much longer for you!

FYI my engineering education was in water treatment and I spent many years working in the field. Doesn't make me any smarter than you or your water commission folks, just gives me a bit of comfort with things others may not have. Your water commission has experts who are a lot closer to the problem than I. Follow their advice.
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Thank you for your input and concern Alligatorob! I'm aware that these bacteria are around us and in us all the time. There's bacteria in our water, sure but when it gets to unacceptable levels we are alerted. A couple of months ago a N.J. beach was closed because of E-Coli. It's their world (bacteria) and we are living in it. :LOL:
@Lee Thank you for your empathy and concern❣️
 
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OneEyedDiva said:
It's now going on 3-1/2 weeks and we don't know how much longer this will go on
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I came back to this thread, specifically to check to see if you'd possibly gotten it back yet, or if you've heard any approximate target date that you might.....:confused:Gosh, it sure seems like a long stretch to me, but I am glad to have read here in these posts, how well you have been doing, whatever needs to be done. Hang in there!
 
Kaila said:
I came back to this thread, specifically to check to see if you'd possibly gotten it back yet, or if you've heard any approximate target date that you might.....:confused:Gosh, it sure seems like a long stretch to me, but I am glad to have read here in these posts, how well you have been doing, whatever needs to be done. Hang in there!
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I thank you again so much for your concern Kaila❣️ Unfortunately, the warning has not been lifted. :(
 
@OneEyedDiva Are you under an Advisory or an Order?

“
A boil advisory is a precautionary measure issued by the water utility to alert customers when there is a potential for compromised water quality. It is recommended that customers boil all water used in the preparation of food and beverage for consumption for 2 minutes.

A boil order is a confirmation that contamination is present in the water system. It is essential that customers boil all water used in the preparation of food and beverage for consumption for 2 minutes.
This includes water used for:

  • Drinking water (including pets)
  • Brushing teeth
  • Baby formula
  • Washing produce
  • Preparing food
  • Coffee, tea, lemonade, etc.
  • Ice cubes should be thrown out
Water used for laundry, showering/shaving, and watering grass or plants is safe to use without boiling.”


Source:
https://www.waterone.org/your-water/water-quality/boil-advisory-vs-boil-order
 
I can only imagine what you're going through, Diva.
I've never experienced that at all.....the later years on the farm, i developed a reaction to a nitrate in our well water, after that, got a water cooler and bought water for drinking.
But
Have never had to do what you are doing, ever......hope the water shapes up soon.....be safe and well.
 
Jules said:
@OneEyedDiva Are you under an Advisory or an Order?

“
A boil advisory is a precautionary measure issued by the water utility to alert customers when there is a potential for compromised water quality. It is recommended that customers boil all water used in the preparation of food and beverage for consumption for 2 minutes.

A boil order is a confirmation that contamination is present in the water system. It is essential that customers boil all water used in the preparation of food and beverage for consumption for 2 minutes.
This includes water used for:

  • Drinking water (including pets)
  • Brushing teeth
  • Baby formula
  • Washing produce
  • Preparing food
  • Coffee, tea, lemonade, etc.
  • Ice cubes should be thrown out
Water used for laundry, showering/shaving, and watering grass or plants is safe to use without boiling.”


Source:
https://www.waterone.org/your-water/water-quality/boil-advisory-vs-boil-order
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Although the water commission labeled the announcement as an "advisory", this is what is in their alert bulletin and it remains in effect as of yesterday's update:

"The following measures are also recommended:
  • Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes made with tap water during the day of the advisory;
  • Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking;
  • Do not swallow water while showering or bathing;
  • Rinse hand-washed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle;
  • Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms;
  • Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries;
  • Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled).
Home treatment devices that do not boil or chemically disinfect the water with acceptable disinfectants are not considered reliable alternatives to boiling the water.

What is being done?

The crossover valve is being manually operated to prevent any contaminated water from leaving the reservoir. During this time the reservoir is being spilled over to wash out the dirty water. Follow up samples are being taken to confirm the water is properly treated and back to safe water quality standards.

Please continue to boil your water or use bottled water until you are notified that the water quality is satisfactory. This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe. We anticipate this occurring Wednesday 9/8/2021, around midday.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.


Activities that do require boiled water:Activities that do not require boiled water:
DrinkingShowering
Washing food served without cooking/bakingTub Bathing
Adding water to food without cooking/bakingDish washing or rinsing*
Ice MakingLaundering
Cleaning food contact surfacesGeneral cleaning, mopping
GarglingHand washing
Eye WashingPet bathing
Taking water with medicationsPlant water/irrigation
Tooth brushing
Pet watering

*Cleaned dishes and utensils should be rinsed in water that contains 1 tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of water (100-200ppm chlorine) and allowed to air dry before use.

Home treatment devices that do not boil or chemically disinfect the water with acceptable disinfectants are not considered reliable alternatives to boiling the water.

"UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST OR USE BOTTLED WATER. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; preparing foods; mixing baby formula, food, juices or drinks; washing vegetables and fruit; cooking; making ice; brushing teeth; and washing dishes until further notice. Bring all water to a rolling boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Ice or any beverages prepared with tap water after 9/1/2021 should be discarded.​


We are working closely with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that the drinking water provided to your community is restored in a safe and timely manner. Please continue to boil your water or use bottled water until you are notified that the water quality is satisfactory. This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe."
 
SeaBreeze said:
You've been through a lot for a long time now Diva, I hope your water can be deemed safe to use soon, hang in there. I admire your calmness in all this and your patience.
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Thank you so much SeaBreeze ❣️ Getting usable water from my son and having a supply of bottled water helps but I'll be happy when things are back to normal. I've always been one who reacts rather calmly to "big adversities". It's the little, nit picky, annoying things that set me off sometimes.
 
Sorry you are still having to do this! Your water commission's guidance looks right and they seem to be doing the right thing. Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

This kind of problem happens more in rural areas with small water systems, as I told you the last place I lived in Florida it happened a lot. On average maybe once a year. It was a PIA, but you get used to it. To my knowledge no one ever got sick from the water.

Good luck with it.
 
Alligatorob said:
Sorry you are still having to do this! Your water commission's guidance looks right and they seem to be doing the right thing. Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

This kind of problem happens more in rural areas with small water systems, as I told you the last place I lived in Florida it happened a lot. On average maybe once a year. It was a PIA, but you get used to it. To my knowledge no one ever got sick from the water.

Good luck with it.
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Thank you! Do you recall how long it lasted each time? You're right...it's a (what I call) PITA, but after a couple of weeks, I've developed a "system" and methods to make things a little less a pain. I've got to give myself more time to get ready for one thing. I dunno...maybe it's sad..but I am getting used to it ! ;)
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Do you recall how long it lasted each time?
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It varied a lot from a few days to months. However our water system was very different from yours, it only served a couple of hundred homes and the water came from shallow wells in sandy soil. Our contamination usually resulted from surface flooding around the wells with the surface water infiltrating into the wells directly. It lasted until the flooding passed, the water drained, and then the system was flushed out.

Sounds like yours is a surface reservoir problem, very different. Your water system is much larger and you probably have much better communications. We usually learned of our boil water notice and its recension from a small sign in the lawn in front of the water office, not mailings or internet.

PIA or PITA, either are good names for it!
 
I read many years ago X number of drops of bleach in one gallon of water will make it drinkable. Here is an explanation.
  • Disinfect water using household bleach, if you can’t boil water. Only use regular, unscented chlorine bleach products that are suitable for disinfection and sanitization as indicated on the label. The label may say that the active ingredient contains 6 or 8.25% of sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented, color safe, or bleaches with added cleaners.If water is cloudy, let it settle and filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter.
    • Locate a clean dropper from your medicine cabinet or emergency supply kit.
    • Locate a fresh liquid chlorine bleach or liquid chlorine bleach that is stored at room temperatures for less than one year.
    • Use the table below as a guide to decide the amount of bleach you should add to the water, for example, 8 drops of 6% bleach, or 6 drops of 8.25% bleach, to each gallon of water. Double the amount of bleach if the water is cloudy, colored, or very cold.
      Glass containers
    • Stir and let stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn’t, repeat the dosage and let stand for another 15 minutes before use.
    • If the chlorine taste is too strong, pour the water from one clean container to another and let it stand for a few hours before use.
Volume of WaterAmount of 6% Bleach to Add*Amount of 8.25% Bleach to Add*
1 quart/liter2 drops2 drops
1 gallon8 drops6 drops
2 gallons16 drops (1/4 tsp)12 drops (1/8 teaspoon)
4 gallons1/3 teaspoon1/4 teaspoon
8 gallons2/3 teaspoon1/2 teaspoon
*Bleach may contain 6 or 8.25% sodium hypochlorite.
 
fmdog44 said:
If the chlorine taste is too strong, pour the water from one clean container to another and let it stand for a few hours before use.
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From what I was told, years ago, by someone who had credentials, the tiny amount of bleach kills stuff, while it all evaporates out of it,
but I am not an expert, myself.
 
UPDATE: We are still under the boil water advisory but the reservoir was cleaned. They are in the "flushing" process and expect that to be completed by mid October at which time we should be able to resume normal usage. My son got 48 of the free bottled water from a friend who apparently had some to spare. I already had 2-1/2 cases of Kirkland (Costco) water here and their cases contain 40 bottles. So I'm good with drinking water. I was on vacation from Sunday to Wednesday night, so was happy to be able to take showers and wash my hands with soap and water while there!
 

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