Emergency

Please call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside of business hours, call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990.

Do not consume mixed beverages containing tap water during a boil water advisory. This includes soda dispensers connected to a water supply. Substitute mixed beverages with canned or bottled. Discontinue the use of drinking water fountains and other plumbing fixtures used to provide drinking water. 

Coffee and other hot drinks must reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before drinking. If not, use boiled and cooled water to prepare hot beverages.

No, discontinue the use of a dipper well for the duration of a boil water advisory.

Yes, however sanitizing solutions must be 50-200 parts per million chlorine and tested routinely with test strips.

Test dishwashers to verify that temperatures reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the surfaces of the internal contents of the appliance. To test the temperature, place a food thermometer into a glass and run the dishwasher. During the wash cycle take note of the temperature.

Discontinue the use of produce misters during a boil water advisory. 

No. Discard ice made from tap water. All ice, including bagged ice, must be from an approved source (e.g. purchased ice).

Tap water may be used to thaw food in a preparation sink, as long as the product is cooked afterward and reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, thaw food in a refrigerator instead of using tap water.

Use boiled and cooled water when washing food products that will not be cooked afterward or purchase pre-washed items.

If using tap water in your food product, the minimum internal temperature must reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit or boiled water must be used.

Use warm tap water and soap for handwashing. After hands are rinsed and dried, follow with a liquid hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer must be used as an additional step; it does not replace handwashing. 

In an emergency, boiling is the preferred method for making sure tap water is safe to drink. The following are acceptable alternatives if you cannot boil your tap water because of a power outage or loss of gas service:

• Use bottled water.
• Disinfect tap water with liquid household bleach. Bleach should be recently purchased, contain at least 5.25% hypochlorite, and contain no additions or fragrances. If water is clear, add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon. If water is murky, add 16 drops (or 1/4 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon. Stir bleach into water and let it stand for 30 minutes before using.
• Water purification tablets may also be used to disinfect tap water by following the manufacturer’s instructions. 

• You will be notified when tests show that the tap water is safe to drink.
• You may be asked to run water to flush the pipes in your home before using your tap water or be given other special instructions.
• Until you are notified, continue to boil all tap water for one minute before use.

See your family physician or healthcare provider. Your doctor may call the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water at (804) 864-7500 for information about the boil water notice.

Your doctor should notify the local health department if he or she suspects your illness was caused by microorganisms in the water.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants. 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 can be at greater risk from infections.

These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. 
Guidelines on ways to reduce the risk of infection from microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. 

You should boil the tap water and let it cool before you give to the animals in your care.

No. You should only use water from an approved, tested source. Without routinely testing the water there is no way to know if the water is safe to drink.

Yes. Bottled water can be used for all situations where boiled tap water is recommended. Be sure that the bottled water is from a reliable source.

Yes. Devices designed to improve the taste, odor, or chemical quality of the water, such as activated carbon filters, will not remove harmful microorganisms from the tap water. Boil the tap water to make sure it is safe.

No.

There is no need to boil water for bathing or showering. Adults, teens and older children can shower or bathe, though they should avoid getting water in the mouth or swallowing the water. 
Infants and toddlers should be sponge bathed. No special soaps are necessary. Care should be taken to prevent water from getting into deep open or post-surgical wounds. 
Consult your physician or health care provider for wound care instructions

No. It is not necessary to boil the tap water used for washing hands. Use warm tap water and soap for handwashing, and follow with a liquid hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer must be used as an additional step; it does not replace handwashing. 

Yes. Any tap water that might be swallowed should be boiled before use.

No. A spoonful of Clorox bleach in a sink full of tap water should treat dishwashing water. Rinsing water should also contain bleach. Air-dry dishes and utensils before using or use an electric dishwasher with its heating elements on to wash dishes. After washing in an electric dishwasher, rinse dishes in water with a spoonful of bleach and air-dry before reuse.

All tap water used in cooking must first be boiled for one minute unless the cooking process involves boiling for one minute or more.

Yes. Boil all tap water you use for washing raw vegetables.

Yes. Only use boiled tap water or bottled water for mixing formula for your baby. Make sure that the water is entirely cooled before giving it to your baby.

Yes. Boil all tap water you use for making coffee, tea, mixed drinks or any beverage made with water. In addition, boil all tap water used for making ice for consumption. 

Tap water can be boiled in the microwave in a microwave-safe container, provided that the water reaches a full rolling boil for one minute. Place a microwave-safe utensil in the container to keep the water from superheating (heating above the boiling point without forming steam or bubbles).

Bring tap water to a full rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using.

Boiling the water kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoans that can cause disease. Boiling makes the tap water microbiologically safe.

You may be asked to boil your tap water during an emergency:

• If tests show that harmful microorganisms could be present in the water,
• If the water pressure drops due to equipment failure or power outages,
• Because of water main breaks or repairs,
• If the water source has been flooded, or
• During other situations that warrant special action to protect consumers’ health. 

SSOs discharge water and other contents from the sanitary sewage system. Avoid contact and report them to the Prince William Water Emergency Dispatch line at (703) 335-7990.

More information on the extent of environmental and human health impacts caused by SSOs can be found in the EPA report Impacts and Control of CSOs and SSOs. 

Water that has been sitting in lines can have air or sediment in it. We recommend running cold water from a tap on the highest floor of your home for five to 10 minutes. If the tap continues to sputter or the water remains cloudy, call our Emergency Dispatch Office at (703) 335-7990. 

Soil characteristics, age and condition of a pipe, and changes in water and ground temperatures can all contribute to water main breaks. Typically, these occur during the winter months. Occasionally, pipes can break if they are accidentally struck by heavy equipment.

Every water main break is different, and the amount of time required to fix them varies due to pipe material, pipe size, the type and cause of the break and how accessible the pipe is. 

Prince William Water crews work to fix a main break safely and as quickly as possible.

We respond quickly to repair the broken water main.  We notify customers if their service will be interrupted during repairs. Water main breaks beneath roadways require a temporary asphalt patch. A contractor will complete permanent paving, typically within 6 to 8 weeks. 

• To report a potential water main break during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950. 
• To report a break during weekends and evenings, call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990. 
• Thanks for looking out for us!

Signs on or near a road include: Flowing or standing water in unusual places, sinkholes or potholes, or large, unexplained cracks in asphalt or pavement. 
Signs in your home include: Low or no water pressure, discolored or cloudy tap water, or gurgling or groaning sounds in your plumbing.