Why do we have to boil water anyway?

Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Bus operators for a group of out of town students staying at the Bahia Mar hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach wait outside the hotel to relocate the students to another hotel in Hollywood due to the water main break that could leave residents and businesses without water service for 24-36 hours. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Taimy Alvarez / South Florida Sun Sentinel
The shelves are nearly empty of water at the Winn Dixie in State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale Thursday afternoon as people stock up on water due to a water main break.
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
A digital sign in Wilton Manors alerts the public of a water main break and to prepare to be without water service for 24-26 hours.
Linda Trischitta / South Florida Sun Sentinel
There was heavy demand for large jugs of water at the Coral Ridge Mall Publix store where most shoppers seemed to be filling their carts with the precious resource. One man said buying the jugs was "easier than boiling." The store was keeping up with demand and though some shelves were empty, there were displays elsewhere for customers to choose from.
Linda Trischitta / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Coral Ridge Mall has closed its restrooms due to a county wide water outage after a private contractor hit a water main during construction.
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale Deputy City Manager Rob Hernandez, Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Ben Sorensen speak to the media about the water main break that could leave residents and businesses without water service for 24-36 hours.
Taimy Alvarez / South Florida Sun Sentinel/South Florida Sun Sentinel
City of Fort Lauderdale resident Kate Stout puts her new born baby, Michael Steinberg, into the car after picking up a 24-bottle case of water at the City of Fort Lauderdale's Beach Community Center at 3351 NE 33rd Ave. Fort Lauderdale Thursday afternoon. "I haven't been home yet. I'm hoping it's not going to be out for that long, " said Stout about the water outage. "We still have to boil water and it's hard with a six week old baby." Tens of thousands of residents in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding cities were warned early Thursday to brace for a prolonged water outage, after a private contractor hit a water main during construction.
Andrew Boryga / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Long snaking line of cars here at Mills Pond Park one of the sites where free water will be distributed to residents in Fort Lauderdale area effected by water main accident.
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale officials including Deputy City Manager Rob Hernandez, Director of Public Works Paul Berg, Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Ben Sorensen speak to the media about the water main break that could leave residents and businesses without water service for 24-36 hours.
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis addresses the media about the water main break that could leave residents and businesses without water service for 24-36 hours.
Linda Trischitta / South Florida Sun Sentinel
There was heavy demand for large jugs of water at the Coral Ridge Mall Publix store where most shoppers seemed to be filling their carts with the precious resource. One man said buying the jugs was "easier than boiling." The store was keeping up with demand and though some shelves were empty, there were displays elsewhere for customers to choose from.
Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale fire rescue on scene of a water main break along the 2500 block of Northwest 55th Court, near the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Chicago Tribune file photo / Chicago Tribune
Boiling water removes unhealthy contaminants.
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
A shuttle bus driver loads luggage for Ritz Carlton hotel guests who are being relocated to another hotel due to the water main break that could leave residents and businesses without water service for 24-36 hours. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
A digital sign in Wilton Manors alerts the public of a water main break and to prepare to be without water service for 24-26 hours. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Wayne K. Roustan/Sun Sentinel
The 42-inch water main that was damaged is located near the 2500 block of Northwest 55th Court, just south of the runways at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Linda Trischitta / South Florida Sun Sentinel
The always Mulligans Beach House in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea provided a porta potty for patrons. The town's public restrooms across El Mar Dr are locked during the water crisis caused by a damaged water main.
Taimy Alvarez / South Florida Sun Sentinel
City of Fortlauderdale residents (left) Hank Waronoff and Travell Glover leave the city's water distribution location at the Beach Community Center at 3351 NE 33RD AVE. with cases of water Thursday afternoon. "We have no water in our condo," said Waronoff. "We can't flush toilets and we can cook anything. We've been through this during a hurricane." Tens of thousands of residents in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding cities were warned early Thursday to brace for a prolonged water outage, after a private contractor hit a water main during construction. 40 cases of water Lots of people coming Total three pallets of water Hank Waronoff FPL beach We have no water in our condo can't flush toilets can cook anything. We've been through this during a hurricane Travell Glover gray shirt black man Ftl Parks and Re a 1 pack per address 24 pack of bottle water Blue shirt long sleeves Ronald Gobin or city city of Fort Lauderdale apprentice facility worker for Parks and Recreation Rich Lundstron City of Park and Recs Fort Lauderdale resident Black hat gray shirt shirt sleeve gray hair Demarius Washington City of parks and Rex municipal maintenance worker Dark blue long sleeve shirt black hat glassss Kate Stout Ftl Michael Steinberg "I haven't been home yet. I'm hoping it's. It out for that long. We still have to boil water and it's hard with a six week old baby.
Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale fire rescue on scene of a water main break along the 2500 block of Northwest 55th Court, near the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale fire rescue on scene of a water main break along the 2500 block of Northwest 55th Court, near the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Taimy Alvarez / South Florida Sun Sentinel
City of Fort Lauderdale Park and Rec. employees (left) Travell Glove and Demarius Washingtonhelp distribute water to residents at Beach Community Center at 3351 NE 33RD AVE. Fort Lauderdale Thursday afternoon. Tens of thousands of residents in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding cities were warned early Thursday to brace for a prolonged water outage, after a private contractor hit a water main during construction. 40 cases of water Lots of people coming Total three pallets of water Hank Waronoff FPL beach We have no water in our condo can't flush toilets can cook anything. We've been through this during a hurricane Travell Glover gray shirt black man Ftl Parks and Re a 1 pack per address 24 pack of bottle water Blue shirt long sleeves Ronald Gobin or city city of Fort Lauderdale apprentice facility worker for Parks and Recreation Rich Lundstron City of Park and Recs Fort Lauderdale resident Black hat gray shirt shirt sleeve gray hair Demarius Washington City of parks and Rex municipal maintenance worker Dark blue long sleeve shirt black hat glassss Kate Stout Ftl Michael Steinberg "I haven't been home yet. I'm hoping it's. It out for that long. We still have to boil water and it's hard with a six week old baby.
Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale fire rescue on scene of a water main break along the 2500 block of Northwest 55th Court, near the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

By Dan Sweeney | dsweeney@sunsentinel.com | Sun Sentinel

PUBLISHED: July 19, 2019 at 11:40 a.m. | UPDATED: July 19, 2019 at 3:39 p.m.

With the boil water notice still in effect for Fort Lauderdale and surrounding environs, you may be wondering why you have to go through all this and what exactly you should be doing — and not doing — amid a boil-water notice.

Why do we need to boil the water?

Anytime water is reaching you without being properly treated, it’s pouring out of your faucet with unknown bacteria, viruses and other contaminants. Boiling the water kills off the microscopic beasts, some of which can cause severe intestinal issues, which is especially problematic when your toilets are not quite flushing properly what with all the water issues.

How much boiling is a proper boil?

It’s not enough to just get a big pot of water bubbling. Water should be brought to a roiling boil and then kept there for at least a minute. The water should then cool for at least 30 minutes before you use it.

Do I need to boil my water if I have a water filter?

Yes, you absolutely need to boil your water unless you have a reverse osmosis treatment system in your home, and unless you’re on well water, you probably don’t. Those disposable filters in your refrigerator or attached to a pitcher do not filter out biological contaminants. Those disposable filters use something called ion exchange resin to filter out copper, cadmium and zinc. They also use a separate method to filter out most chlorine and mercury. They are designed to filter out these mineral contaminants, not biological ones. To thoroughly filter your water, you could run boiled water through a filter after the boiled water has cooled.

Along with drinking, what else do we need to boil water for?

Brushing your teeth, cleaning dishes, washing fruits and vegetables. If something is going to go into your mouth, boiled water should be used to clean it.

Can bleach be used to treat water instead of boiling?

Adding eight drops of plain, unscented household bleach per gallon of water, and letting it stand for 30 minutes before drinking it, can decontaminate water. However, it’s not a guarantee. If water remains cloudy after 30 minutes, the procedure should be repeated. The bleaching method is largely reserved for instances in which households have no power, such as after a hurricane, and have no way to boil water. During the water main break, with your stove top still ready to go, boiling is the preferred method.