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Freezing temperatures and burst pipes in Texas have put pressure on water companies, and many in the region are out of safe drinking water. Austin is currently under city-wide water-boiling advice, along with more than a dozen other areas in the state. Bottled water is the safest alternative to tap water during a cooking water advice. If you don̵
Follow these guidelines, provided by the CDC, to boil your water so that you can drink it safely.
Step 1: Boil the water
To kill parasites, viruses and bacteria, boil the water for 1 minute. If you live at elevations over 6,500 feet, boil the water for 3 minutes.
Step 2: Let the water cool
Make sure the water cools down before drinking it.
Step 3: Save it
Keep the water in a food safe container if you don’t plan on using it right away.
If the water you’re boiling is cloudy, the CDC recommends filtering it through a coffee filter or a clean towel. You can also wait for the cloudy water to settle to the bottom and pour only the clear water at the top into your pan or scoop it up to cook it. Then follow the same steps as above – cook for 1 minute (or 3 minutes depending on your height), let the water cool, then store in a clean, food-safe container if you’re not already using it.
Check out the CDC guidelines for more information on getting clean drinking water, including additional advice if you don’t have access to bottled water and you can’t boil water.
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care practitioner if you have any questions about a medical condition or health goals.
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