Pinellas Park, Florida, is under a precautionary boil water notice after a major water outage hit the city on June 17. Local officials from Pinellas County Utilities and the City of Pinellas Park issued the notice as a safety measure until lab tests prove the supply is completely clean.

Boil Water Instructions

Residents are advised to use bottled water or boil their tap water before cooking, drinking, or even brushing their teeth. To ensure the water is safe, bring a pot of water to a rolling boil for at least one full minute to kill off any potential bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

If the water coming out of the tap looks cloudy, run it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter before putting it on the stove. Let it cool down adequately before using it, and store the clean water in covered containers.

For those who cannot boil water and do not have access to bottled water, an alternative option is to add an eighth of a teaspoon of plain, unscented household bleach to a gallon of water. Stir it well and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before using.

System Monitoring and Updates

Local utility crews are currently monitoring the system and running safety checks to clear the notice. The utilities release stated that they will continue to test water quality until it has met safe drinking water standards for at least two days. An update will be issued when it is safe to resume regular water use.

Residents can check the status online at Pinellas.gov/boil-water for the latest updates.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.