Boil Water Advisories

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will advise the Department of Watershed Management during boil order advisories.

Official updates will be provided to public safety officials and posted on the City of Atlanta website and on the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management website as they occur.

Sign up for Notify ATL to receive real-time updates to your home, mobile or business phone by text and voice. Also stay tuned to local news outlets, and connect with DWM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ATLWatershed.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY TIPS

 What you need to do in case you are under a boil water advisory:

Homes

• Use boiled or bottled water only for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, making baby formula, bathing and cleaning.
• Water should be brought to a rapid, rolling boil and boiled for 1-3 minutes prior to use.
• Breast feed your baby or use ready-made formula. If you must use water to make formula, use bottled water. If you don't have bottled water, use water that has been rapidly boiled for at least 1-3 minutes.

Restaurants and other Food Service Establishments must take the following precautions:

If your facility has no running water and/or toilets that will not flush, you MUST CLOSE business operations immediately. If your facility has running water but you are located in one of the affected zip codes, you MUST FOLLOW these precautions:

• All water provided to customers for drinking must be commercially bottled or boiled water.
• All foods that must be washed, rinsed or soaked must be done with commercially bottled or boiled water. If you use boiled water, allow it to cool before use.
• All water used as an ingredient in food products must be commercially bottled water or water that has been boiled rapidly for 1-3 minutes. Be sure to let water cool before use.
• When preparing food which will be boiled in water, you may do so as long as the water is brought to a rapid, rolling boil for at least 1-3 minutes. Be sure to let water cool before use.
• Beverage (soda and iced tea) machines used to dispense cold beverages MUST NOT be used. The lines connected directly to the tap water for mixing must be disconnected.
• Coffee brewers and hot tea towers may operate if water temperatures are maintained between 195°F to 250°F.
• All ice must be made with commercially bottled water or must originate from a commercial ice supply distributor. Discard all ice from automatic ice machines.
• Do not use tap water for hand washing. Use a commercial hand sanitizer, bottled water or water that has been boiled 1-3 minutes. Be sure boiled water is cooled before use.
• All equipment and utensils must be washed and sanitized with bottled or boiled water, or sanitized in dishwashing machines that have a dry cycle or a final rinse that exceeds 113°F for 20 minutes or 122°F for 5 minutes or 162°F for 1 minute.