Eau potable non sûre

De quoi s'agit-il

After floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and power outages, tap water can become unsafe to drink or stop flowing altogether. Your water utility may issue a boil-water advisory or a do-not-drink notice.

Qui est exposé

Everyone, including people on city water and people with private wells. Babies, older adults, pregnant people and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk of getting sick from unsafe water.

Se préparer dès maintenant

1. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, for at least 3 days. Store 2 weeks' worth if you can.
2. Store extra water for pets, and for anyone who is pregnant, sick or lives somewhere hot.
3. Buy commercially bottled water and keep it in its original sealed container, in a cool, dark place.
4. If you fill your own containers, use food-grade containers, clean and sanitize them first, and replace the water every 6 months.
5. Keep a bottle of plain, unscented household bleach and a medicine dropper with your supplies.
6. Learn where your home's main water valve is, so you can shut it off to keep contaminated water out.
7. If you have a well, know how to have it tested and disinfected after a flood.

Find safe water already in your home

1. Your water heater tank holds clean water. Turn off its power or gas first, let it cool, then drain water from the valve at the bottom.
2. Melt ice cubes made before the water became unsafe.
3. Shut off the main water valve, then drain clean water left in your pipes from the lowest faucet in your home.
4. Use liquid from canned fruits and vegetables.

Make water safe to drink

1. Boiling is the surest way to kill germs. Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Let it cool before drinking.
2. If the water is cloudy, let it settle, then filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter before treating it.
3. If you can't boil water, use plain, unscented household bleach (not color-safe, scented or splash-less bleach). Check the label for the strength.
4. For bleach that is 6% or 5.25%: add 2 drops per quart or liter, or 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) per gallon.
5. For bleach that is 8.25%: add 2 drops per quart or liter, or 6 drops per gallon.
6. Stir well and wait at least 30 minutes before drinking. The water should have a slight chlorine smell. If it doesn't, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes.
7. Keep treated water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.

Pendant l'événement

1. Follow any boil-water advisory or do-not-drink notice from your water utility or health department.
2. Use only bottled, boiled or treated water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing dishes and making baby formula.
3. If the water may be contaminated with fuel or chemicals, boiling and bleach will not make it safe. Use bottled water.
4. Don't drink water from swimming pools, hot tubs, radiators, waterbeds or toilet bowls.

Après

1. Wait until your utility says tap water is safe again.
2. When the advisory ends, run cold water taps for at least 5 minutes, and follow your utility's flushing advice.
3. Throw out ice made during the advisory, and replace fridge water filters.
4. If you have a private well that flooded, have it disinfected and tested before using the water.
5. Refill the water you used from your supplies.

Sources officielles

• CDC: Making water safe in an emergency
• Ready.gov: Water
• American Red Cross: Water safety in emergencies
• National Weather Service: Safety

Ce guide résume des recommandations publiques. Suivez toujours les consignes des autorités locales et des services d'urgence.