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Boil-water advisory: what does it mean?

Due to a problem or maintenance, your tap water may temporarily not be clean enough. In that case, we issue a boil-water advisory. This means that you can only use tap water after boiling the water for 3 minutes. After that, it is safe to use. A boil-water advisory is usually valid for 3 to 4 days.

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What should you do?

Boil the tap water for 3 minutes before using it for:

  • Drinking
  • Making coffee, tea, lemonade or baby formula
  • Washing fruit or vegetables
  • Brushing your teeth

After boiling, the water is safe to drink.

How do you boil the water?

  • Use a pan or whistling kettle: let the water boil for 3 minutes.
  • Using a kettle: leave the lid open, otherwise it may switch off automatically.
  • A boiling water tap (such as a Quooker,) keeps water hot for longer. There is no need to boil this water again.
  • Please note: coffee machines usually do not boil the water long enough.

After 3 minutes of boiling, any bacteria in the water are dead.  You can now use the water safely.

When does the boil-water advisory expire?

You will receive a letter when the water is safe again. After that, you no longer need to boil it.

Water from mobile water station or water tank

Sometimes there is no water at all. In that case, Waternet will place a mobile water station or tank with clean water in your neighbourhood. But your own jerrycan, pan or bottle might not be clean enough. Therefore, also boil this water for 3 minutes to make sure it is safe.

When is a boil-water advisory issued?

Unfortunately, tap water is sometimes not clean enough for direct use. This may be the result of a malfunction, leakage or maintenance work. For example, when we are working on a water main, there is a small chance that a contamination could enter the pipe. If this happens, we will issue a boil-water advisory. Sometimes, we issue a boil-water advisory as a precaution. This happens when we cannot be certain that the tap water is completely safe. 

How long will the boil-water advisory remain in place?

Unfortunately, we cannot say in advance how long a boil-water advisory will remain in place. They are always temporary and usually only last several days. You can generally expect them to last between four and eight days. In rare cases, it may take longer. We will let you know when you no longer need to boil your tap water.

How do I know if a boil-water advisory has been issued?

If it concerns a small area, Waternet will notify you personally. We do this by letter or telephone. Are there problems in a wider area? Then we will inform people through local media, such as RTV Noord-Holland and/or AT5. You will also find information on our website. 

Is it safe to take a shower or bath?

You can shower and bathe as normal. Do make sure not to swallow any water. 

Can I brush my teeth with tap water during a boil-water advisory?

Yes, but boil your tap water for 3 minutes before using it to brush your teeth.

I ingested some unboiled water. What should I do?

Most people will not experience any symptoms. However, if you do develop symptoms, please contact your GP.

All questions about a boil-water advisory
Berry, the digital assistent