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Drinking Water Emergencies

For Consumers and Water Systems

Consumers: If you have questions concerning the safety of your drinking water contact your local health department. Publications you may find useful.

• Complete 2008 Emergency Resource Guide This guide contains information on preparing for emergencies--from tips on preventing the spread of germs to a checklist of emergency supplies. Download the entire booklet in English or Spanish, or print out individual fact sheets on topics of interest. Many of the fact sheets are also available in Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.
  Direct links to Weather and Nature section. (PDF)
  • Floods
  • Cleaning your basement after a flood
  • Windstorms
  • Purifying Household Water
  • Power Outages
• Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water  EPA Web Site - Pub#816-F-06-027
• Treatment of Drinking Water for Emergency Use DOH Pub#331-115

Water Systems impacted by an emergency should contact their local health department or DOH regional office during normal business hours for assistance. If an emergency occurs after hours call our 24 hour Emergency Hotline. Publications you may find useful. (PDF files below are under 730 KB)

• Emergency Funding for Water Systems DOH Pub#331-420
• Flood Advice for Drinking Water Systems DOH Pub#331-300
• Drinking Water After-Hours Emergency Hotline DOH Pub#331-133
• Boil Water Door Hanger (PDF)
• Coliform Bacteria and Drinking Water DOH Pub#331-181
• Do not drink: Contaminated Water  Poster DOH Pub#331-265 (PDF)
• Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water  EPA Web Site - Pub#816-F-06-027
• Emergency Disinfection of Small Systems DOH Pub#331-242 (PDF)
• Emergency Drinking Water Sources DOH Pub#331-317 (PDF)
• Emergency Water Supply Guidelines for Food Service Establishments
  DOH Pub#331-182
• Guidelines for Truck Transportation of Emergency Water Supply for Public Use  
  DOH Pub#331-063
• Public Notification Helps to Protect Public Health, DOH Pub#331-239 (PDF)
• Responding to a Threat Against a Water System, DOH Pub#331-183 (PDF)
• Translated Drinking Water Warnings DOH Pub#331-246
• Treatment of Drinking Water for Emergency Use DOH Pub#331-115 (PDF)
• Coliform Public Health Advisory Information for Purveyors Tools to help purveyors respond to the presence of fecal contamination in the water supply.
• Nitrate Public Health Advisory Packet DOH Pub#331-259

Several of the publications above are available as a packet of information created to help you handle an emergency that has affected your water system. The packet contains information about what actions you should take to respond to any number of emergencies. Drinking Water systems can be affected by accidents, natural disasters, and criminal actions. The publications in this packet will also identify how to inform your customers and the Office of Drinking Water of the emergency.

For additional information contact your regional Drinking Water office.

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Last Update : 05/21/2009 06:23 PM