How will I know when the precautionary advisory or notice has been lifted?

Each precautionary boil water advisory or boil water notice is different making it impossible to predict how long it will remain in effect. It will not be lifted until testing shows that the water meets public health standards. Ottawa County will issue a repeal of the advisory or notice once notified by our laboratory that the water is safe to drink. Ottawa County will disseminate information regarding the repeal

After an advisory or notice has been lifted (if contamination of the water system did occur) you should flush household pipes, ice makers, water fountains, etc. prior to using for drinking or cooking. Flushing simply means letting the water run to ensure that no contaminated water remains in your pipes. Follow these guidelines for flushing:

  • Clean faucets and aerators
  • Dispose of ice cubes made with tap water that had not been boiled during the advisory or notice
  • Flush building water lines by allowing both the hot and cold water to run for several minutes at each fixture
  • Replace or clean filters on faucet filtration systems or whole house filters per manufacturer's recommendations
  • Run drinking water fountains for one minute
  • Run water coolers with direct water connections for five minutes
  • Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle
  • To flush automatic ice makers, make three batches of ice and discard

Show All Answers

1. Do I still need to boil my water if I have a filter system on my faucet or refrigerator?
2. How long must a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory or Boil Water Notice be in effect?
3. How will I be notified of a precautionary boil water advisory or boil water notice?
4. How will I know when the precautionary advisory or notice has been lifted?
5. Is the water safe for washing dishes, laundry, and bathing?
6. Under what circumstances will Ottawa County issue a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory or Boil Water Notice?
7. What are total coliform bacteria?
8. What if I drank some water before I found out about the advisory?
9. What should I do during a Precautionary Boil Advisory Water or Boil Water Notice?