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If you received a door hanger notifying you to boil your water, follow the information below. A drinking water advisory means you should boil your water before using it or use bottled water.
Questions about a boil water notice door hanger you received? Contact the Water Quality Line Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or after hours at 503-823-4874, option 1.
If you do not have a door hanger from us, your water is safe to drink. You do not need to follow the instructions on this page.
About precautionary boil water notice advisories
When the Portland Water Bureau issues a precautionary boil water notice, we notify people by delivering a door hanger to all the affected properties. Precautionary boil water advisories are issued when there is a loss of pressure in the water main (pipe). Loss of water pressure can happen when there is a main break or loss of power, or because of construction or maintenance activities.
When a pressure loss has happened, we encourage affected people to boil their water for one minute before using it. This is a precaution for protecting health. While it's unlikely, a loss of pressure may allow contaminants to enter the drinking water system. Boiling water before drinking, cooking, or making baby formula will kill any potential contaminants that may have entered the drinking water during the loss of pressure.
When boil water advisories are issued, we test the water to ensure it is safe to drink. Once we get results (usually the next day), we notify people with another door hanger and let them know if boiling water is no longer necessary.
Questions about boil water advisories in general? Contact the Water Quality Line.
What to do if you received a boil water notice by door hanger
Until we lift the boil water notice (likely around 24 hours), people in the affected area should use boiled or bottled water for drinking or cooking. Boiling water is important until test results show the water is free from contamination.
To boil water:
- Heat water on a stove until it reaches a rolling boil.
- Boil water for one minute.
- Turn off heat and let water cool on the stove.
- You can use the water once it has cooled. You may choose to put the cooled water in clean containers and store in the fridge for later use.
Activities that do require boiled or bottled water
- Drinking, including making coffee or tea, or mixing powder drinks.
- Washing food or produce that isn’t cooked or baked.
- Mixing baby formula. For formula-fed or bottle-fed infants, wash bottles, nipples, and pump parts with soapy tap water and sterilize between uses.
- Adding water to food without cooking or baking.
- Brushing teeth and gargling.
- Making ice.
- Cleaning food contact surfaces (examples: cutting boards or countertops).
- Taking medications with water.
- Cleaning wounds or sores. The organisms of greatest concern need to be ingested to cause illness. However, as a precaution use boiled or bottled water. People with compromised immune systems are at most risk and should consult their health care provider.
Activities that do not require boiled water
- Showering and bathing. Do not allow water in mouth. Consider giving infants and young children a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
- Shaving.
- Washing dishes, utensils, and cookware. Hand wash with soapy tap water and let air dry. You can use your dishwasher if it has a sanitizing cycle.
- Laundry, general cleaning, and mopping.
- Washing hands. Use soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse, and towel dry vigorously.
- Rinsing contact lenses. Contacts should be cleaned with appropriate contact lens solution. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds and dried thoroughly before putting in contact lenses.
- Providing drinking water for pets (optional). Pets have some innate protection from this type of water contamination. However, some people will prefer to use boiled water for their pets to drink.
- Bathing pets.
- Watering plants and irrigating. During this boil water event, rinse all produce that won't be cooked with boiled or bottled water before eating.
- Flushing toilets.
How should I feed my infant?
Continue to breastfeed or chestfeed if that’s what you currently do. For formula-fed or bottle-fed infants, sterilize bottles, nipples, and pump parts after you wash them between uses. Hand wash bottles and parts with soapy tap water and then sterilize.
To prepare formula:
- Use ready-to-use formula or single-serve, ready-to-feed formula bottles, if possible.
- Prepare powdered or concentrated formula with bottled water.
- If you do not have bottled water, boil water for 1 minute and let cool before mixing with formula.
- If you cannot boil your water, disinfect water with bleach (see directions below) before mixing with formula.
Is using hot tap water enough?
No, hot tap water is not hot enough to make the water safe to drink. Additionally, we strongly recommend never using water from the hot water tap for cooking, drinking, or to make baby formula. Water from the hot water tap has a higher chance of having metals, such as lead, and other contaminants from your plumbing that might make it unsafe to drink.
Can I use bottled water or water from my emergency stores?
Yes. Using bottled water or water stored for emergencies is a safe alternative. We recommend storing 14 gallons of water per person for emergency use. Learn more about how to store emergency water.
Will my home filtration system or commercial systems at grocery stores substitute for boiling water?
Home and commercial filtration systems vary considerably and may or may not be effective. To be safe, boiled or bottled water should be used.
Can I use bleach to disinfect the water?
Yes. You can disinfect water with unscented household chlorine bleach (5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite). Add 1/8 teaspoon or about 10 drops of bleach per gallon of water if the water is clear. Mix thoroughly and let it stand for about 30 minutes before using.
Can I use my camping water filter or treatment?
There are a number of products on the market for treating or filtering water when recreating outdoors. These include: water purification tablets or iodine; hand-pump or straw filters; or ultraviolet (UV) light devices. These all treat water for different contaminants. Read the manufacturer information closely to make sure your treatment device removes or controls bacteria, parasites, and viruses. If it does, read and carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions to treat your tap water before using. If it doesn’t, use boiled or bottled water.
I am feeling ill. What should I do?
The bacteria that could potentially be in the water may cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. These symptoms can be caused by something other than the drinking water. People experiencing any symptoms that persist may want to seek medical advice from their doctor. People who believe their symptoms are a result of consuming drinking water should contact the Multnomah County Health Department Communicable Disease Hotline at 503-988-8939. Infants, young children, some older adults, and people with severely compromised immune systems are most at risk.
What to do after the boil water warning is lifted
When boil water advisories are issued, we test the water to ensure it is safe to drink. Once we get results (usually the next day), we notify people with another door hanger and let them know if boiling water is no longer necessary.
What should I do?
Single-family home residents: Before consuming any water, run all taps that have not been used since the beginning of the event for 2 minutes or until the water runs cold. This will flush any potentially contaminated water from the plumbing and bring fresh, cold water into your home or building.
Building managers: Run all taps that have not been used since the beginning of the event for 2 minutes or until the water runs cold. If you have a water management plan for your building, review the plan to determine what actions you need to take. If you do not have a water management plan for your building, learn more about steps you can take today. We also recommend you create a water management plan for your building.
Building tenants: Run all taps as recommended above. Additionally, ask your property manager if they have a water management plan and if you should take any actions to protect the building’s water quality.
I am feeling ill. What should I do?
The bacteria that could potentially be in the water may cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. These symptoms can be caused by something other than the drinking water. People experiencing any symptoms that persist may want to seek medical advice from their doctor. People who believe their symptoms are a result of consuming drinking water should contact the Multnomah County Health Department Communicable Disease Hotline at 503-988-8939. Infants, young children, some older adults, and people with severely compromised immune systems are most at risk.
What should I do with ice, food, or beverages made during the boil water notice?
All ice and beverages made with non-boiled water since the notice was issued should be discarded. Any food made with water since the notice was issued that is not thoroughly cooked above 165 degrees should also be discarded. Food that is cooked (boiled, grilled, or baked) at a temperature above 165 degrees is safe to consume.
Should I replace my home water filter after the event?
This incident should not have impacted your water filter. As a general health precaution, filters should be changed according to the regular schedule recommended by the manufacturer, as old filters can diminish water quality.
Do I need to flush my water heater?
A bath or shower would be sufficient to flush any potential bacteria from the water heater. To reduce the risk of lead and copper exposure through household plumbing and fixtures, customers should never cook with or drink from the hot water tap.