Boil Water Advisories: What You Need to Know

Ensuring access to safe drinking water is a top priority for the Putnam County Health Department. A Boil Water Advisory is issued when there is a possibility that drinking water may be contaminated due to events such as water main breaks, flooding, or system malfunctions.

On this page, you’ll find guidance on what to do during an advisory and information about active boil water advisories.

What to Do When Water May Be Unsafe to Drink

  • Always look for announcements from local officials to find out if there is a local water advisory. They will tell you if there are germs or chemicals in the water and what actions you should take.
  • If you get water from a well and think it may be contaminated from floodwaters or another source, contact your local health department for advice on inspecting and disinfecting your well.
  • Use bottled water until you know your tap water is safe. If bottled water is not available, boiled water is the preferred method for making water safe. Expand the box below for detailed instructions.

There are three different methods you can use to make water safe depending on how it has been contaminated. Note: Water contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins cannot be made safe by boiling, disinfecting or ­filtering. 

BOIL

Boil your water for 1 minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Let the water cool. This is the preferred method for killing bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

DISINFECT

Add 8 drops or a little less than 1/8 of a teaspoon of 5%-9% unscented household bleach to 1 gallon of water. For cloudy tap water, use 16 drops or ¼ teaspoon. If you don’t have household bleach, chlorine dioxide tablets or iodine can be used according to label instructions. Wait at least 30 minutes before using. This method will kill most viruses and bacteria.

FILTER

Most portable water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses. Choose a water filter labeled to remove parasites and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Filtered water might need additional treatment to be safe.

  • Breastfeeding is the safest way to feed an infant during emergencies. For infants who are not breastfeeding or being fed breast milk, ready-to-feed infant formula is the next safest option.
  • When powdered infant formula is the only option, use bottled water or boiled tap water to prepare formula until officials say your tap water is safe to drink.
  • Always clean infant feeding items with bottled, boiled, or treated water and soap before each use.

Never Use Tap Water in the Following Ways Until You Know It’s Safe:

  • Making ice
  • Washing dishes
  • Cooking
  • Drinking
  • Bathing
  • Brushing teeth

Guidelines for Food Establishments

When a local boil water advisory is issued, affected food establishments should follow safety guidelines to protect community health. The resource below will help managers and staff navigate the situation. If you have questions or concerns that are not addressed, please call the Health Department for further instruction.

Click here for guidelines issued by the WV DHHR

Guidelines for Water Servicers

When water conditions have the potential to cause adverse effects on public health, public water servicers are required to issue boil water notices in a timely fashion. If you have questions or concerns that are not addressed, please call the Health Department for further instruction.

Click here for procedures issued by the WV DHHR

CDC Resources

If you have any complaints you would like us to investigate, please fill out this form. You can also email or call us.

Contact Information

Phone: (304) 757-2541 | Fax: (304) 757-7287
Email: putnamlhd@wv.gov
Physical Address: 11878 Winfield Road, Winfield, WV 25213
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 892, Winfield, WV 25213

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