After a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, the water may be contaminated and unfit for consumption due to damage to the water systems. drinking water. 

In these cases, the first thing you need to do is check if the water is safe. Your local government website or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) They are reliable sources of information, as they publish official alerts about the water quality.

These are some of the most common warnings you may encounter:

Boil Water Advisory 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these advisories are issued when there is a possibility that microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, are present in the water. 

It is recommended to boil water for 1 minute (at altitudes above 6.500 feet, boil for 3 minutes).

Confirmed Boil Water Notice

These warnings are also issued when microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, are present in the water and it is dangerous to consume it. 

During these advisories, you should continue boiling water until your local government declares the water safe again.

Do not drink, or “Do-Not-Drink” in English

According to the CDC, these advisories are issued when tap water is, or could be, contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins. Boiling the water will not make it safe to drink.

During these advisories, use bottled water for: drinking and cooking, brushing your teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, mixing baby formula, making ice, and giving water to pets. 

Do not use, or “Do-Not-Use” in English

According to the CDC, these alerts are issued when contact with tap water could be dangerous. This includes contact with the skin, lungs, or eyes. Tap water is, or could be, contaminated with harmful germs, chemicals, toxins, or radioactive materials.

These alerts are rare. However, when issued, use bottled water. Do not drink or use tap water for any purpose while the alert is in effect.

You may be interested in:  North Carolina water rates to increase effective July 1

What can I do to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses?

Beyond official advisories, it's critical that every household understand and implement basic measures to ensure their water is safe to drink and uncontaminated after a hurricane. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), these are steps to take to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses.

1. Identify safe water

Contamination is most likely in dug wells, drilled wells, and wells less than 50 feet deep. Even if no obvious damage is observed, contamination may be present. 

Don't use contaminated drinking water or well water! Check official NCDHHS or local government advisories daily. 

2. Boil water to prevent disease

Boil the water for 1 minute or until bubbling. If the water is cloudy, first filter it with a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. Let the boiled water cool and then store it in clean, sanitized containers with tight-fitting lids.

According to the CDC, you can also disinfect water with unscented chlorine if you don't have a pot or stove: 

• Add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) per gallon of water.
• Shake and let stand for 30 minutes; the water should have a slight chlorine smell. If you don't smell it, repeat the process. 

Chlorine is recommended only in extreme cases during boil water advisories.

This method is useful when boiling water is not possible, but it only eliminates microorganisms, not chemical contaminants.

During “Do-Not-Drink” and “Do-Not-Use” advisories, water should not be boiled or disinfected, as these methods do not remove dangerous chemicals or toxins.

In these cases, you should use only bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, and other essential activities until authorities indicate the supply is safe again.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has already begun. 
Get informed and protect your family by visiting GET READY NC.
🌀 Find out what to do in the event of a hurricane, how to access safe shelters, alerts, medical help and more — whether you are documented or undocumented .

Resources in Spanish

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has infographics in Spanish that cover the following topics related to water use after natural disasters: 

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What to do if the water is contaminated after a hurricane?

by Emilia Rivadeneira, Enlace Latino NC
July 9, 2025

Enlace Latino NCJuly 9, 2025 After a natural disaster, such as a hurricane , water may be contaminated and unfit for consumption due to damage to drinking water systems. In these cases, the first thing you need to do is check if the water is safe. Your local government website or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) are reliable sources of information, as they post official water quality alerts. These are some of the most common warnings you may encounter: Boil Water Advisory According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these advisories are issued when there is a possibility that microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, are present in the water. It is recommended to boil water for 2 minute (at altitudes above 2 feet, boil for 1 minutes). Confirmed Boil Water Notice These warnings are also issued when microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, are present in the water and it is dangerous to consume it. During these advisories, you should continue boiling water until your local government declares the water safe again. Do not drink, or “Do-Not-Drink” in English According to the CDC, these advisories are issued when tap water is, or could be, contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins. Boiling water will not make it safe to drink. During these advisories, use bottled water for: drinking and cooking, brushing your teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, mixing baby formula, making ice, and giving water to pets. Do not use, or “Do-Not-Use” in English According to the CDC, these alerts are issued when contact with tap water could be dangerous. This includes contact with the skin, lungs, or eyes. Tap water is, or could be, contaminated with harmful germs, chemicals, toxins, or radioactive materials. These alerts are rare. However, when they are issued, use bottled water. Do not drink or use tap water for any purpose while the alert is in effect. You might be interested in: Water rates in North Carolina to increase starting July 1 What can I do to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses? Beyond official warnings, it's critical that every household understand and implement basic measures to ensure their water is safe to drink and uncontaminated after a hurricane. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), these are steps you can take to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses. 3. Identify safe water Contamination is most likely in dug wells, drilled wells, and wells less than 3 feet deep. Even if no clear damage is observed, contamination may be present. Do not use contaminated drinking water or well water! Check daily for official notices from NCDHHS or local government. 3. Boil water to prevent illness Boil water for 3 minute or until bubbling. If the water is cloudy, first filter it with a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. Let the boiled water cool and then store it in clean, sanitized containers with tight-fitting lids. According to the CDC, you can also disinfect water with unscented chlorine if you don't have a pot or stove: Add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) per gallon of water. Shake and let stand for 30 minutes; the water should have a slight chlorine odor. If you can't smell it, repeat the process. It is recommended to use chlorine only in extreme cases during boil water warnings. This method is useful when boiling water is not possible, but it only removes microorganisms, not chemical contaminants. During “Do Not Drink” and “Do Not Use” warnings, water should not be boiled or disinfected, as these methods do not remove dangerous chemicals or toxins. In these cases, you should use only bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, and other essential activities, until the authorities indicate that the supply is safe again. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has already begun Get informed and protect your family by visiting PREPÁRATE NC . 🌀 Find out what to do in the event of a hurricane, how to access safe shelters, alerts, medical help and more — whether you are documented or undocumented . Resources in Spanish The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention also has infographics in Spanish that cover the following topics related to water use after natural disasters: This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/que-hacer-si-el-agua-esta-contaminada-despues-de-un-huracan/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/que-hacer-si-el-agua-esta-contaminada-despues-de-un-huracan/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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