Preparing for a Boil Water Advisory: Essential Steps to Follow
In the midst of record-low temperatures, Texas is facing a new challenge - a fresh boil water advisory. This advisory, issued by local water utilities or municipal providers, means that water is not safe to drink or use without boiling.
The reason behind this advisory is the freezing of water infrastructure, both underground and indoors, due to the extreme cold. This has led to potential contamination of the water supply, exposing it to dirt, germs, and more.
If you find yourself in a situation where boiling water is your only option, it's important to know that boiled water only needs to be boiled once and can be stored for future use at any temperature. However, it should be stored in clean containers to ensure its safety.
Boiling water kills germs by denaturing proteins and destroying their structures. This process pulls the structures of waterborne germs apart with high heat, making it safe to consume or handle.
However, it's important to note that a Brita filter or other filtration system is not enough to make unboiled water safe to drink, even if it runs directly from your water pipes. In such cases, emergency water filter systems like the Berkey Go Berkey Water Filter Kit, Sawyer Sawyer Water Filter Filtration Kit, Sawyer SP128 Mini Water Filtration System, and LifeStraw Personal Water Filter can be considered.
If the ability to boil water is limited, hand sanitizer or washing and rinsing with unboiled water can be used for hand hygiene. Unboiled water should be used with caution for cleaning, as residual germs could be present on surfaces, baby items, pet toys, etc.
Caroline Delbert, a writer, avid reader, and contributing editor at Pop Mech with interests in nuclear energy, cosmology, math, and philosophy, reminds us that it is safe to use boiled water for drinking, cooking, cleaning household surfaces, and bathing.
As the situation in Texas continues to evolve, it's crucial to stay informed and follow the advisories issued by local authorities to protect public health. Besides the boil water advisory, residents are also facing challenges such as rolling blackouts and carbon monoxide poisoning risks due to the extreme cold.
Stay safe and stay informed.
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