Boil water advisory still in effect in county

CHEROKEE COUNTY – As water service is restored following issues created by winter weather conditions, local residents are being told to continue boiling water until further notice.

Several water supply corporations, such as Craft-Turney and West Jacksonville – have placed advisories on their websites that “when water service is restored, you should boil your water for two minutes at a rolling boil prior to consumption. Please do this until we notify you otherwise.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “If your local health authorities issue a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boil tap water because your community’s water is, or could be, contaminated with germs that can make you sick.”

Recommendations from www.cdc.gov include:

- Use bottled or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.

- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 2 minutes, then allow it to cool before use. Boil tap water even if it is filtered.

- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.

- In many situations, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands. Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and rinse them well under running water.

- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

- Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering; use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

- Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.

- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.

- Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit or if the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.

- Sterilize all baby bottles.

- When washing dishes by hand, use hot water; in a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water, then soak rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute before letting completely air-dry before using again.

- Provide bottled or boiled water after it has been cooled for pets to use.

- You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.