Water
Boil Water Notice: What to Do
3 min read · Last reviewed 22 September 2026
Bring tap water to a rolling boil and let it cool before you drink it, brush your teeth with it, make ice, prepare food, clean baby feeding equipment or give it to pets. You can still shower, bathe, flush the toilet and wash clothes as normal, but keep bathwater out of your mouth. Keep going until your water company says the notice is lifted.
What a boil water notice means
Your water company issues a boil water notice when the supply may be contaminated, for example after a burst main or a problem at a treatment works. If you are on a private water supply, the notice comes from your local council. It applies until the company tells you it has been lifted, however long that takes.
Boiling makes the water safe to drink. It does not mean the water is safe to swallow without boiling, even in small amounts.
Boil it before you use it for
Bring the water to a rolling boil, take it off the heat and let it cool naturally. Keep cooled water in a clean, covered container in the fridge, and throw away anything you have not used within 24 hours.
- Drinking, including water for squash and hot drinks made with cooled water
- Brushing teeth
- Making ice cubes
- Preparing food, including washing salad and fruit
- Cleaning baby feeding equipment
- Giving water to pets
What you can still use tap water for
You can shower and bathe as normal, as long as the water does not get into your mouth. Toilets and washing machines work as usual.
You can wash dishes by hand in hot water, but dry them thoroughly before use.
Babies and people at higher risk
Sponge-bath babies and young children rather than putting them in the bath, and do not let them suck the sponge. For formula, use water that has been boiled and follow the instructions on the pack. Ready-to-feed formula needs no water at all, and a carton or two is worth keeping for exactly this.
Some people are at higher risk of infection and need to be especially careful never to drink unboiled tap water: anyone with a weakened immune system, including people having chemotherapy or taking medicines that suppress immunity. If you are unsure, ask your GP or pharmacist.
If you also lose power
Boiling needs a kettle or a hob, which is why bottled water matters even if the taps are still running. A gas hob usually still works in a power cut if you light it with a match. Never use a camping stove or barbecue indoors: they produce carbon monoxide.
Useful to have in the cupboard
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- Check options on Amazon
Bottled drinking water
Mains water can be interrupted or put under a boil notice. Bottled water needs no power and no preparation.
Still water, 12 x 1.5L, about £9
- Check options on Amazon
Water container
Somewhere to store water from a standpipe or bowser, or to fill from the tap before a planned outage.
15L collapsible water carrier, about £17
- Check options on Amazon
Vacuum flask
Fill it before an expected outage and you still have hot drinks and hot water hours later.
1L vacuum flask, about £17
Keep a bottled supply
Tell the builder who is in your household and it will work out how much bottled water to keep, the number of packs and a guide price.
Work out my waterCommon questions
- How long should I boil water for under a boil notice?
- Bring it to a rolling boil, then take it off the heat and let it cool naturally. Keep cooled water covered in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.
- Can I shower during a boil water notice?
- Yes. Showering and bathing are fine as long as the water does not get into your mouth. Sponge-bath babies and young children instead of bathing them.
- Can I use a kettle to boil the water?
- Yes. An ordinary kettle that brings water to a full boil works. Let the water cool before drinking it or using it for anything that goes in your mouth.
- How will I know when the notice is lifted?
- Your water company will tell you, usually by letter, text or on its website. Keep boiling until it does, even if the water looks and tastes normal.
Useful sources
- Receiving a boil water notice (Drinking Water Inspectorate)
- Prepare (GOV.UK)
My Emergency Kit is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK Government or emergency services. Our suggestions are general information for UK households, not professional, medical or emergency advice. In an emergency call 999.
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