Boil water advisory
Encyclopedia
A boil-water advisory or boil-water order is a public health
advisory or directive given by government or health authorities to communities when a community's drinking water
is, or could be, contaminated by pathogen
s.
Under a boil water advisory, it is recommended that water be boiled
for several minutes in advance of consumption or use, in order to kill off as much of the bacteria and viral contamination as possible.
A common cause is a loss of pressure due to a failure of distribution system integrity. While loss of pressure does not necessarily mean the water has been contaminated, it does mean that potential pathogenic materials in contact with water supply plumbing may be able to diffuse into the system and thus be carried to consumers. The normal pressure of the water supply system would prevent this inward diffusion, as any leaks would force contaminants away from the supply.
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
advisory or directive given by government or health authorities to communities when a community's drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
is, or could be, contaminated by pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
s.
Under a boil water advisory, it is recommended that water be boiled
Boiling
Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid, which occurs when a liquid is heated to its boiling point, the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by the surrounding environmental pressure. While below the boiling point a liquid...
for several minutes in advance of consumption or use, in order to kill off as much of the bacteria and viral contamination as possible.
A common cause is a loss of pressure due to a failure of distribution system integrity. While loss of pressure does not necessarily mean the water has been contaminated, it does mean that potential pathogenic materials in contact with water supply plumbing may be able to diffuse into the system and thus be carried to consumers. The normal pressure of the water supply system would prevent this inward diffusion, as any leaks would force contaminants away from the supply.
See also
- 2010 Boston Water Emergency2010 Boston Water EmergencyOn May 1, 2010, a water pipe in Weston, Massachusetts broke and began flooding into the Charles River. This led to unsanitary water conditions in the greater Boston area which resulted in Governor Deval Patrick declaring a state of emergency and an order for residents to boil drinking water. The...
- 1998 Sydney water crisis1998 Sydney water crisisThe 1998 Sydney water crisis involved the supposed contamination of Sydney's main water supply, the Warragamba Dam, by the microscopic pathogens cryptosporidium and giardia between July and September 1998....
- Water supplyWater supplyWater supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
- Water pollutionWater pollutionWater pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....