Reviewed by the Evolve Health clinical team · 2026-09-30 · 1 min read
Boil water notices are a regular Texas occurrence — after water main breaks, pressure losses, floods, or freezes. They mean your tap water may be contaminated with bacteria or other organisms.
What to do
Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (three minutes above 6,500 feet), then let it cool. Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing produce, making ice, and pet water. Sponge-bathing with tap water is generally fine for adults; use boiled water for infants.
What NOT to do
Don't drink unboiled tap water, don't assume a home filter makes it safe (most don't remove bacteria), and don't use ice from an automatic icemaker made before the notice.
Appliances
Turn off automatic icemakers, discard ice made during the notice, and run dishwashers on the sanitizing cycle or hand-wash with boiled water. Flush taps and water heaters per your utility's instructions when the notice is lifted.
How you'll hear about it
Notices come from your water utility — sign up for their alerts if you haven't. The notice stays in effect until the utility confirms the water is safe, which requires lab testing and can take a couple of days.
If someone gets sick
Gastrointestinal symptoms after drinking potentially contaminated water warrant a call to your provider — especially for infants, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Visit us
Evolve Health is at 2442 Lillian Miller Pkwy, Suite 115, Denton, TX 76205. Book online or call (940) 257-2002 to schedule a visit, in person or by video anywhere in Texas.
Need care for this?
Book an appointment online in under a minute, or call (940) 257-2002 — same-day appointments may be available.