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The top questions people are asking about Austin’s boil water alert

Austin Water customers woke up Monday to an unexpected surprise: their water is potentially dangerous. After hearing the news, many of you had questions. We're answering them here.

AUSTIN — After the City of Austin issued a boil water notice Oct. 22, Austin Water customers had a lot of questions.

Historic flooding in Central Texas last week brought an enormous amount of water Austin's way. Those floodwaters also brought high levels of silt to the city's water supply. Austin's water plants are trying to keep up. The city has now issued a boil water notice.

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Here are answers to some of the most frequent questions we've seen from you.

When will the boil water notice end?

On Thursday, Austin Water officials said they are targeting for Sunday to call an end to the notice. They said they still have testing and monitoring to do and are urging residents to continue to reduce water in the meantime.

Why do I need to boil water during Austin's boil water notice?

The water may contain bacteria or organisms that can present symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and cramps. This can result in serious issues for people with weak immune systems such as infants and elderly people.

What I should do in the case of a boil water alert?

The City of Austin is advising Austin Water customers to not consume water before boiling it, because it could have bacteria or other dangerous organisms.

The water needs to be boiled at least three minutes to kill any bacteria or organisms it may have. Customers should boil water before drinking it or using the water for food preparation and for brushing their teeth. Travis County's Emergency Operations Center said dishes should be washed with hot, soapy water before they are rinsed with boiled water.

Can I shower in the tap water during a boil water notice?

Yes, Austin Water said showering using the tap water is fine.

Do pets need to drink bottled water during a boil water notice?

Yes, you should boil water before giving it to your pet.

Can I filter the water with a water filter instead of boiling it during a boil water notice?

No, you must boil the water before consuming it. Under a boil water notice, tap water needs to reach a boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit to kill bacteria or organisms.

Can I wash my clothes with the tap water during a boil water notice?

Yes, you can wash your clothes with tap water. However, over the weekend, Austin Water asked customers to postpone clothes washing and dishwashing. The city also asked Austin Water customers to stop outdoor watering completely and to take shorter showers.

How can I prepare baby formula and food under the boil water notice?

Wash food and cook with boiled water. If you are preparing baby formula it needs to be prepared with a bottle of water, the city said. If you do not have bottled water, the city said you may use boiled water.

Austin Water released the following document which covers frequently asked questions regarding the boil water notice:

Do you have a question that we missed in this story? Send an email to kvuedigital@kvue.com or let us know via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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