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Emergency Preparedness

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Drinking water safety and floods

Flood waters can carry bacteria and chemicals that make drinking water unsafe. If your area is affected by flooding, follow the steps below to protect yourself and your family.

If we believe local water may not be safe, we will issue a  drinking water advisory (DWA). Always follow advisory instructions until they are lifted.

Any well whether deep or shallow, can become contaminated during a flood. If flood water has reached or covered your wellhead, treat your water as unsafe to drink until test results confirm your water supply is safe.

Use boiled, treated, or bottled water for:

  • Drinking, preparing and washing food
  • Making ice or beverages
  • Preparing infant formula
  • Brushing your teeth or gargling
  • Pets' drinking water 

 

Tap water can still be used without boiling for:

  • Bathing and showering
  • Handwashing
  • Cleaning and laundry

 

How to boil water:

  • Fill a pot with water
  • Bring water to a boil for one minute
  • Let water cool, then store it in a clean, covered container

 

How to treat water with bleach

  • Add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach to every 4 litres of water
  • Stir it well and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before you use it
  • Bleach will kill many, but not all, harmful bacteria in the water

 

If chemical contamination is suspected:

Chemicals cannot be removed by boiling or disinfection.

Do not boil the water - boiling will not remove chemicals. Use bottled water or another safe source for all of the following:

  • Drinking, preparing and washing food
  • Making ice or beverages
  • Preparing infant formula
  • Brushing teeth and gargling
  • Handwashing
  • Washing dishes
  • Pets' drinking water

Additional information on alternate water supplies is available on our drinking water advisories webpage.

Keep using a safe alternative water source until water testing confirms your private water supply is safe.

Once flood waters have receded, take these steps:

  • Check you well or surface water intake for damage or visible contamination. Use caution around older, and large dug wells.
  • Disinfect the well using the PHO well disinfection procedure, and disinfect our internal plumbing.
  • Replace water treatment filters.
  • Test your water and continue using an alternative water source until test results confirm your water supply is safe.
  • Flush garden hoses for five minutes.
  • Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
  • Flus, clean, and sanitize appliances connected to water lines (e.g., fridges with water and ice dispensers).
  • Dispose of ice made during the advisory.
  • Drain and flush ice-making and soda fountain machines.
  • Drain and refill hot water heaters set below 45°C (113°F).The normal setting is 60°C (140°F).

 

Water testing

Free drinking water test bottles are available at pick-up and drop-off locations listed on our website.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, What Consumers Need to Know About Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages, and Floods, June 2018.
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