September 26, 2005 DHH Advises Drinking Water Safety in Flooded Areas - Boil or disinfect water before consuming

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Baton Rouge – State health officials are advising residents in all areas impacted by Hurricane Rita to boil or disinfect water before drinking. This advisory is for communities in which water systems lost pressure due to electrical power outages.

 Although some individual water systems and/or communities have already issued strict boil orders, and have notified their customers, this LDH advisory is precautionary for all systems in the affected areas that have not already issued a formal notice.

 Loss of water pressure can allow bacteria to enter water distribution systems making it unsafe for consumption. This advisory warns people not to drink, make ice from, brush teeth, prepare or rinse food with tap water unless it has been properly disinfected until further notice.

 

How to disinfect water:

 

 

Health officials note that boiling is the most effective method of disinfection of water particularly for people who are severely immunocompromised (infected with HIV/AIDS, cancer and transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs, or people born with a weakened immune system) and for infants and elderly who wish to take extra precautions.

 

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

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