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What is a boil water alert for drinking water?

Last Updated: April 04, 2010

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A boil water alert is issued in a community if the public drinking water supply has one or more microbiological contaminants at levels exceeding those allowed by the U.S. EPA. Any water used for drinking or brushing teeth should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Boiling water is the surest way to kill disease-causing microorganisms. The boil water alert is a temporary advisory to protect public health.

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