Everything. Every drop of water that goes into your mouth, your food, your ice cubes, and your pet’s bowl. Yes, even for brushing your teeth—because apparently, swallowing a bit of sudsy toothpaste isn’t the risk, it’s the splash-back. (You’re welcome for that mental image.)
The rule of thumb is three minutes of a rolling boil for most locations, or one minute if you’re at high altitude—like if you live in Denver or your stove is on a mountain. Let the water cool naturally, don’t put your face over the steam and huff it, and store it in a clean container. Fancy, right?
Boil water order issued for West Paris | newscentermaine.com
What you can still do without boiling
Not everything is canceled. You can still shower, but try not to swallow the water—so maybe skip the dramatic shower-singing mouthfuls. (Elton John will wait.) You can also wash dishes if you soak them in a bleach solution afterward, or just use your dishwasher’s hot cycle. Laundry? No problem. Go wild.
But here’s the kicker: don’t assume your fridge filter saves you. Most fridge and pitcher filters are designed to improve taste, not kill pathogens. (Cue your fridge making that glug-glug sound of betrayal.) You’ll need to change that filter after the order lifts, too—otherwise, you’re just asking for a bacterial reunion in your next glass of iced tea.
