Has a boiling water notice been issued to your area?
Here’s everything you need to know:
In line with HSE handwashing advice, Irish Water recommends that the water remain suitable for this purpose and that it is not necessary to boil the water.
What should water be boiled for:
- drink
- Drinks made with water
- Preparation of salads and similar foods not cooked before eating
- brushing teeth
- Make ice – throw ice cubes in refrigerators and freezers and filtered water in refrigerators. Make ice from cooled boiled water.
What steps should be taken:
- Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (eg washing salads).
- Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing toilets but not for brushing or gargling teeth.
- Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boiling point (eg with an automatic kettle) and allowing to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cool place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Household water filters will not make water safe to drink.
- Care must be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bath water.
Boiling water notices and children in the house:
- Prepare baby food with water that has been brought to a boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been boiled over several times.
- If bottled water is used to prepare baby food, it should be boiled and cooled once.
- If you use bottled water to prepare baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water can have a high sodium content. The legal limit for sodium in drinking water is 200mg per liter. Check the label on the bottled water to make sure that the sodium or `Na ‘is not more than 200mg per liter. If this is the case, it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, use this water for as short a time as possible.
- It is important to keep babies hydrated.
- Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and burns as accidents can happen easily, especially with children.