NEW ORLEANS — A boil water advisory was issued Saturday morning at 10:38 a.m. for the Lower Ninth Ward and a few surrounding neighborhoods, including Holy Cross and Bywater, following a water important break.
“Water pressure in the area has dropped below 20 pounds per square inch due to a water main break near Florida Boulevard,” the Sewer and Water Board said Saturday morning. “Residents in affected areas are advised to use bottled or boiled tap water for drinking, cooking, cleaning food and brushing teeth until further notice.”
The area bounded by Franklin Avenue, the Intercoastal Waterway, Florida Avenue and the Mississippi River was also included within the advisory.
What to do when water boils? Advice
The advisory doesn’t necessarily mean that the water is contaminated, but that viruses or bacteria can have entered the system and the present water quality is unknown.
When cooking, use bottled water or water that has been boiled for one minute on the stove.
This includes washing dishes, cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, mixing baby milk or filling your pet’s water bowl.
The CDC says it’s best to boil tap water, even when you’ve gotten a water filter, because most kitchen filters don’t kill bacteria or viruses. Only a UV water disinfection system can kill them.
Do not use ice constructed from tap water during beneficial cooking, and make sure to empty the ice maker after ordering.
Baths and showers are positive, just try to not get water in your mouth. Babies and young children must be given sponge baths to stop swallowing water. Laundry and using the dishwasher are also positive, so long as you’ve gotten ok water pressure and the parish doesn’t require residents to be particularly water-saving.
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