To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and for making ice should be boiled and cooled.
Use bottled or boiled water for cooking, making ice, washing fruits and mixing soda water.
Give pets boiled or bottled water as well, St. David’s recommends, because they can get the same illnesses as we can get.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends these steps for during a boil water advisory: Do not serve or consume: water that has not been disinfected, ice or drinks made with water that has not been disinfected, or raw foods rinsed with water that has not been disinfected.
Discard ice made prior to the boil water advisory issuance and discontinue making ice.
For drinking water, use: commercially-bottled water and/or water that has been disinfected for Cryptosporidium by: boiling at a rolling boil for 1 minute (at altitudes greater than 6,562 feet, boil water for 3 minutes) distilling (water is boiled until it vaporizes and is then condensed back into water).
do not use chemicals such as bleach to disinfect your water Many water filters do not protect against water-borne illnesses.
Rinse hands well with running water – if running water is not available, water may be poured on the hands by another person.
Run cold water faucets continuously for at least 5 minutes.
Run coolers with direct water connections for 5 minutes.