City of Mechanicville

1. What is the proper way to disinfect my water so that is safe to drink?

The preferred method of treatment is boiling. Boiling water kills harmful bacteria and parasites. Bring water to a full rolling boil for at least 1 minute to kill most infectious organisms.

2. How should I wash my hands during a boil water advisory?

Based on the current conditions of the affected public water supplies, vigorous hand washing with soap and your tap water is safe for the basic personal hygiene. If you are washing your hands to preparing food you should use boiled (then cooled) water or bottled water with hand washing soap.

3. Is potentially contaminated water (where Cryptosporidium is not the significant contaminant) safe for washing dishes or clothes?

Yes, if you rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in dilute bleach (1 tablespoon per gallon of water). Allow dishes to completely air dry.

Yes, if you clean your dishes in a home dishwasher using the hot wash (170 º) and dry cycles. Note that not all dishwashers reach this temperature. Again, allow dishes to completely dry.

Yes, for commercial dishwashers if you use a NSF listed washer manufactured with either a hot wash (170 º) or a disinfectant rinse.

It is safe to wash clothes in tap water.

4. Is potentially contaminated water safe for bathing and shaving?

The water may be used for showering, baths, shaving and washing, so long as care is taken not to swallow water. Children and disabled individuals should have their bath supervised to ensure water is not ingested. The time spent bathing should be minimized. Though the risk of illness is minimal, individuals who have recent surgical wounds are immunosuppressed, or suffering from chronic illness may want to consider using bottled or boiled water for cleansing until the advisory is lifted.

5. How should I wash fruit and vegetables and make ice?

Fruits and vegetables should be washed with boiled (then cooled water) or bottled water. Ice should be made with boiled water or bottled water.

6. What if I already consumed potentially contaminated water?

Even if someone has consumed potentially contaminated water from either a public water system or a private well before they were aware of the boil water advisory, the likelihood of becoming ill is low. Anyone experiencing symptoms of the gastroenteritis, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, with or without fever, should seek medical attention.

7. What infectious organisms might be present in contaminated water?

Disease transmission from contaminated water occurs principally by ingesting water. The major organisms of concern are protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and bacteria, such as Shigella, E. coli and viruses. These organisms primarily affect the gastrointestinal system, causing diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting with or without fever. {LHD/DO may offer more specific information based on details of the particular situation}. Most of these illnesses are not usually serious or life threatening except in the elderly, the very young or those who are immunocompromised.