Boil Water Notice FAQs
To display current boil order information, open the Boil Water Notices Viewer below.
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Boil water notices are common in Southwest Florida, caused by water main breaks, construction mistakes, disruptions at the water treatment plant and natural disasters like floods and hurricanes. The typical notice is issued as a precaution until water samples can be collected and analyzed.
Please follow Twitter @CityofMarcoISL for Boil information https://twitter.com/CityofMarcoISL
Also, Boil Water Notices are updated on the City Hall Facebook Page and City Hall Nextdoor page.
Also, receive notifications on your phone through the My Marco mobile app. Go to your Apple or Google app store and download it for free (search for My Marco). Sign up for boil water notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
A slight possibility exists that a pathogen may contaminate a water heater and survive if the water temperature is maintained at 120°F or lower. However, since hot water directly from the water heater usually is not swallowed, this should not be a safety concern. A water temperature of 140°F for a half hour should kill virtually any pathogens in the water heater.
Ice already in your freezer when the boil water notice is issued is safe, but icemakers should be turned off until the notice is lifted. Then empty the ice tray several times to flush the water line to the ice maker. Freezing does not disinfect water.
No. Water intended for drinking must be vigorously boiled for at least a full minute before being used to brew coffee or tea, or being mixed with formula, drink concentrates or juices.
It is safe to fill your pool with tap water and let the pool chemicals do their work, but do not use pool water for drinking or cooking!
Tap water and antibacterial soap for hand washing is safe for basic hygiene, but if you are washing your hands to prepare food, use bottled or boiled water. Fruits, vegetables and other foods should be washed only with boiled or bottled water.
Tap water is safe for house plants and outdoor irrigation.
Boiling water purifies it because disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites are destroyed by heat. Boiling does not remove them from the water, but it does kill them, preventing them from causing illness.
Vigorous boiling for at least one full minute is the safest and most effective method of water disinfection. Fill a pan or pot with cold water, and start timing when steady streams of bubbles pop from the bottom of the pan. Be careful lifting heavy pots and pans, and cool the water before using it for washing or tooth brushing. Store the disinfected water in clean, covered containers. Using bottled water is an option.
Visit the our website for up to date information about current and recent boil water notices. If the notice affects a large area, MIU will provide updates to local broadcast stations and newspapers.
Water filters in refrigerators and pitchers do not remove bacteria. For under-sink filters, read the manual or check with your installer to determine the filter’s bacteria-removal capabilities. If in doubt, boil the water.
Many pets, such as dogs, are susceptible to the same diseases as humans and can transmit the diseases to their families. Provide them with boiled or bottled water.
Most dishwashers do not reach high enough temperatures to kill bacteria, so dishes should be washed in boiled water. You also can wash with tap water and rinse dishes for a minute in a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach and a gallon of tap water. Allow dishes to completely air dry.
It is safe to wash clothes in tap water.
Use boiled or bottled water to brush your teeth, but tap water is fine for bathing, showering and shaving. Avoid getting water in your mouth, eyes and nose, and keep an eye on children in the bathtub. People with recent cuts, surgical wounds, immunity problems or chronic illnesses may consider using boiled water for bathing. Parents may want to use water that has been boiled and cooled to bathe newborns and young infants.
A boil water notice means tap water should not be used for drinking, cooking or icemaking until tests verify the water is safe. Tests typically take 48 hours. In the meantime, tap water should be boiled to kill any microorganisms that may be present.
If you accidentally drink tap water, don’t panic – the chances of becoming ill are slim. See your doctor if you experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal cramps, but illnesses caused by waterborne germs usually are not serious.
When the pressure in lines that transport potable water falls below 20 pounds per square inch, a boil water notice is issued as a precaution, even when contamination is unlikely. Any loss in water pressure creates the possibility of harmful bacteria entering the lines. Until laboratory tests are completed to confirm the water has not been contaminated, the boil water notice remains in effect.
The boil water notice will remain in effect until test samples show the water is safe to drink. MIU technicians collect water samples, using specific procedures that ensure accurate testing. A commercial laboratory incubates the samples to actually grow bacteria if any are present.
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