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"If you do not have bottled water available, boil your tap water before using it," Arlington County officials said.
WASHINGTON — A Boil Water Advisory is in effect for all of the District and Arlington County as of Wednesday night.
According to DC Water, the advisory is for all customers in the District of Columbia, as well as the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport. Shortly after DC Water issued the advisory, Arlington County also issued a notice due to the same incident.
"If you do not have bottled water available, boil your tap water before using it," Arlington County said.
The Boil Water Advisory comes after a drop in water supply from the Washington Aqueduct. Late Wednesday night, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers said in a press release that elevated turbidity levels were found in the water supply caused by increases in algae blooms in the Potomac River.
"Turbidity, a measure of water’s cloudiness or clarity, plays a crucial role in assessing water quality," the press release reads. "It is an important factor in water quality, as it can interfere with the effectiveness of water treatment process and impact the color, taste, and smell of drinking water."
Upon noticing the increase in algae and resulting turbidity, Washington Aqueduct staff implemented treatment solutions to help meet supply demands. They also added EPA-authorized copper sulfate and sodium permanganate to combat algae in the Washington Aqueduct’s reservoirs.
Currently, there is no information indicating that the water was contaminated by the Wednesday incident. The advisory was put in place as a precaution.
"This is a precautionary notice to all customers to boil water that may be ingested due to water of unknown quality," DC Water said in a press release. "Customer should not drink the water without boiling it first."
It is unclear how long the advisory will be in place at this time.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) released a statement shortly after the alert was issued saying the Boil Water Advisory does not impact WSSC Water customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
What To Do
DC Water customers are advised to:
• Discard any beverages and ice made after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
• Run cold water prior to boiling.
• Run cold water for 2 minutes if known sources of lead are present prior to boiling.
• Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and let it cool.
• Store cooled water in a clean, covered container.
Cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be used for:
• Drinking
• Brushing teeth
• Preparing and cooking food
• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Preparing infant formula
• Making ice
• Washing dishes by hand
• Giving water to pets
Additionally, DC Water says customers should not use home filtering devices in place of boiled or bottled water.
Dishes, Landry & Ice
Arlington County released tips to keep in mind when under a boil water advisory:
- Use boiled water (follow the steps above) that has cooled or bottled water for preparing and cooking foods. This includes:
- Washing fruits and vegetables
- Preparing coffee, tea, and lemonade
- Washing food prep areas
- Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or ice makers
- Throw out all ice made with tap water.
- Laundry is safe to do as usual
- Dishwashing — Use disposable plates, cups, and utensils, if possible. If you do not have disposable dishes, follow the instructions below
- Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees or if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.
- To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
Customers with questions can contact DC Water Customer Service at (202) 354-3600 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or the 24-Hour Command Center at 202-612-3400.
What If I Drank The Water Already?
Some people are more vulnerable to contaminants than others if harmful microorganisms did manage to get into the system, including people with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants.
If you consume the water and experience gastrointestinal illness symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, fever, and sometimes headaches, rash, and paralysis, officials say you should see your family physician or healthcare provider.
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