What to do when the water is off

During a water outage

1. Check whether it is just you. If neighbors have water, check your main shutoff valve and your meter.
2. Report it to your water utility, especially if you see water running in the street.
3. Turn off the water heater during a long outage so an empty tank is not heated.
4. Save water for drinking and hygiene. A bucket of water poured into the toilet bowl will flush it.
5. Avoid water from pools or hot tubs for drinking or cooking.

Boil water advisories

When pressure drops, contaminants can enter the pipes, so utilities often issue a boil water advisory after repairs. Until it is lifted:

• Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (three minutes above 6,500 feet), then let it cool.
• Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, baby formula, ice and pets.
• Throw away ice made during the advisory.
• Use the dishwasher’s sanitize cycle, or rinse hand-washed dishes in water with a teaspoon of unscented bleach per gallon.
• Showering is usually fine if nobody swallows the water; give small children a sponge bath.

Advisories stay in effect until lab tests confirm the water is safe. Follow the notice from your utility or health department.

After service returns

Cloudy water is usually trapped air and clears on its own. Brown or rusty water is sediment stirred up by the repair: run the cold tap for several minutes until it runs clear. Avoid hot water and laundry until then so sediment does not reach the water heater or stain clothes. If discoloration lasts, contact your utility.

What causes water outages

Main breaks are the most common cause, especially in older cast-iron pipes and when the ground freezes or shifts. Planned work such as valve and hydrant replacement is usually announced. Pump or treatment plant problems can affect wide areas. Construction damage and freezing weather also cause breaks.

How water service is restored

Crews isolate the broken section by closing valves, repair the pipe, then flush the lines to remove air and sediment. Service is restored gradually to avoid pressure surges, and samples are tested before any boil water advisory is lifted. A simple repair can take a few hours; a large main break can take a day or more.

Storing emergency water

• Store at least one gallon per person per day for three days, plus water for pets.
• Use food-grade containers, label them with the date and replace stored water every six months.
• Know where your home’s main water shutoff is.
• Fill the bathtub if you get notice of a planned outage.

Frequently asked questions

Other outage guides

• Power outage guide
• Natural gas outage guide
• Internet outage guide
• How our outage reports work