Many Harris County Communities Now Under Boil Water Notices
Communities across Harris County have been issued with a boil water notice as they continue to grapple with power outages brought on by the destructive Hurricane Beryl. Residents in the affected areas are being urged to verify the status of their water from local suppliers, their Municipal Utility District (MUD), or homeowners associations (HOAs).
In order to provide an effective measure of safety for the community, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has published a useful Boil Water Notice Map which can be viewed below. This tool will provide residents with constantly updated information about the condition of their local water.
HCPH has also shared essential tips for safe water usage during this disruptive period. Residents are advised to bring tap water to a rolling boil for 1-2 minutes before letting it cool and transferring to a clean container. If boiling is not feasible due to power outages, the public health department recommends disinfecting the water. This can be achieved by adding 1/8 teaspoon of unscented bleach to a clear gallon of water, or 1/4 teaspoon if the water appears cloudy. The bleach should be thoroughly mixed into the water and left to stand for 30 minutes before consumption.
Despite the widespread use of household water filters, the public is informed that these are not effective in eradicating bacteria, and therefore tap water should still be boiled before use.
In terms of food preparation and cooking, residents are advised to use boiled or bottled water. This includes washing fruits and vegetables, cooking surfaces, and even making hot beverages. When it comes to feeding babies, tap or bottled water should be boiled for 1-2 minutes before mixing it into the formula.
In the hygiene department, residents are urged not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. They should also brush their teeth with boiled or bottled water. Dishwashers are safe to use as they sanitize dishes at high temperature. However, for manual dishwashing, residents should use hot water to wash and rinse. Afterwards, soak the dishes in a solution of 1 teaspoon unscented bleach with 1 gallon of water. Following this, dishes should be air-dried completely.
Pets also need clean water, and they should be given either cooled boiled water or bottled water.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
