Boil Water Advisory
- PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES
What is a Boil Water Advisory?
If water is potentially unsafe to drink, the City of Alexandria will issue a precautionary boil water advisory. This announcement advises residents to boil tap water before drinking. An advisory usually lasts at least 24 hours as that’s how long it takes to test the water. The city will inform you when the boil advisory is lifted.
What Do I Need To Do During a Boil Water Advisory?
Don't consume tap water
- Use bottled or boiled water to drink, cook, brush teeth, and mix baby formula.
- Wash fruits and vegetables with bottled or boiled water.
- Don’t use ice from ice trays or ice makers. Make new ice with bottled or boiled water.
- To be safe, give your pets bottled or boiled water.
Take care cleaning
- Wash countertops and tables with boiled water.
- Use a rinse temperature of 150° F or a sanitize cycle on your dishwasher.
- Wash dishes by hand as usual. Then soak in mixture of 1 gallon of water and 1 teaspoon of bleach for 1 minute.
- Do laundry as usual.
Be careful bathing
- If you’re a healthy adult, you can bathe or shower with tap water. Be careful not to swallow any water.
- Give babies and young children a sponge bath or use boiled water to bathe.
- If you have open wounds or a weakened immune system, use boiled water to bathe.
- Use hand sanitizer after washing hands.
Boil water safely
- Heat water until large bubbles come from the bottom to the top of the pot.
- Let the water boil for at least 1 minute.
- Turn off the stove and let the water cool.
- Store the water in a clean container with a cover.
- Add a pinch of salt and shake to improve the taste.
Boil Water Advisory Announcements
Boil Advisory Lifted for MacArthur Drive
MacArthur Drive Water tests clean Alexandria, La. (June 27, 2024)—The boil advisory issued Wednesday, June 26, 2024 for MacArthur Drive area is now lifted. Repairs
Boil Advisory Issued for MacArthur Drive
BOIL ADVISORY ISSUED FOR MacArthur Drive Alexandria, Louisiana— Repairs to a Fire Hydrant on MacArthur Drive has resulted in the need for a boil
Boil Advisory Lifted for Tulane Ave.
Tulane Ave Water tests clean Alexandria, La. (April 30, 2024)—The boil advisory issued Saturday, April 27, 2024 for Tulane Ave area is now lifted. Repairs
After The Boil Water Advisory
Run all cold water faucets for at least 5 minutes.
Flush ice makers by making and getting rid of 3 batches of ice.
Drain and refill hot water heaters if the heater was set below 113° F.