Water Disinfection Procedures
During an emergency, such as a major earthquake, the
NCWD may issue a "boil water notice" until we can verify
that the water is not contaminated and is safe to drink.
During a "boil water notice" any water used for drinking
or food preparation should be boiled at a full rolling boil for
at least one full minute. A full rolling boil is a vigorous boil
that can not be stopped by stirring the water. If the water
is very dirty looking and/or has particulate matter in it,
filter the water through a coffee filter, paper towels, or
clean cloth before boiling.
NEWHALL
COUNTY
WAT E R
DISTRICT
Emergency!
If the emergency has left you with no way to boil the water
or if you have limited fuel and do not want to use it for
boiling water, you may treat the water with liquid chlorine
laundry bleach. NOTE: Do not use scented laundry bleach,
powdered bleach, or swimming pool chlorine - these contain additional chemicals that are poisonous. Below is a
chart showing how much liquid bleach to add to the water.
Amount of Water
Cloudy Water
Clear Water
1 quart
4 drops
2 drops
1 gallon
16 drops
8 drops
5 gallons
1 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon
55 gallons
9 fluid oz
4 1/2 fluid oz
After you add the bleach, thoroughly mix by stirring or
shaking the container. Let the water stand for 30 minutes
before using. A slight chlorine odor should be noticeable in
the water, if not, add another dosage of bleach and allow
the water to stand another 15 minutes before using.
The water can also be treated with the use of water purification tablets, which can be purchased at most outdoors or
sporting goods stores. Follow the directions for use on the
package you purchase.
Treat only enough water to meet your needs for 48 hours
at a time. There is an increased chance of recontamination if
the treated water sits for more than 48 hours. Refrigeration
will also help avoid recontamination.
Note: Most home water filters are meant for water that is
already microbiologically safe. Using these filters during a
"boil water notice" will not guarantee the safety of the
water. Replace any filter cartridges after the boil water
notice has been lifted to insure your filter is not contaminated.
What to do in an
661-259-3610
Utility Shut-off and Safety
In the event of a disaster, you may be instructed to shut
off the utility service at your home.
Below is some general guidance for shutting off utility
services. You should modify the information provided to
reflect your shut off requirements as directed by your
utility company.
Natural Gas - continued
How to store an emergency water supply
When you learn the proper shut-off procedure for your
meter, share the information with everyone in your
household. Be sure not to actually turn off the gas when
practicing the proper gas shut-off procedure.
•
If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise,
open a window and get everyone out quickly.
Bottled water purchased at grocery stores can be stored
for several years. The bottles should be stored in a cool
dark place and should not be exposed to sunlight or
fumes of petroleum products and pesticides/herbicides.
They should be checked periodically to insure that the
plastic has not cracked or developed leaks. If the containers have cracked or leak, replace them.
•
Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve if you
can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s
home.
Storing tap water for emergency use is more complicated.
The storage containers must be sterilized and the water
must be treated before it is stored. Also the water should
be changed every six months.
Water
Water quickly becomes a precious resource following
many disasters. It is vital that all household members learn
how to shut off the water at the main house valve.
CAUTION - If you turn off the gas for any reason, a
qualified professional must turn it back on. NEVER attempt to turn the gas back on yourself.
Cracked lines may pollute the water supply to your house.
It is wise to shut off your water until you hear from authorities that it is safe for drinking.
Wash the containers with soapy water.
The effects of gravity may drain the water in your hot
water heater and toilet tanks unless you trap it in your
house by shutting off the main house valve (not the street
valve in the cement box at the curb—this valve is extremely difficult to turn and requires a special tool).
Preparing to Shut Off Water
•
Locate the shut-off valve for the water line that
enters your house.
•
Make sure this valve can be completely shut off. Your valve may be rusted
open, or it may only partially close. Replace it if necessary.
Label this valve with a tag for easy
identification, and make sure all household members know where it is located.
Natural Gas
Natural gas leaks and explosions are responsible for a
significant number of fires following disasters. It is vital
that all household members know how to shut off natural
gas.
Because there are different gas shut-off procedures for
different gas meter configurations, it is important to contact your local gas company for guidance on preparation
and response regarding gas appliances and gas service to
your home.
Sterilizing the containers
Containers made of heavy opaque plastic with screw-on
caps are the best to use. Plastic milk and orange juice
containers are very thin and tend to crack and leak as
they get old. Also these containers often have snap-on lids
that do not seal as well as screw-on caps.
Rinse thoroughly.
Electricity
Electrical sparks have the potential of igniting natural gas if
it is leaking. It is wise to teach all responsible household
members where and how to shut off the electricity.
Preparing to Shut Off Electricity
•
Locate your electricity circuit
box.
•
Teach all responsible household members how to shut off the
electricity to the entire house.
FOR YOUR SAFETY: Always shut off all the individual
circuits before shutting off the main circuit breaker.
NEWHALL COUNTY
WATER DISTRICT
23780 N Pine Street
Newhall CA 91321
661-259-3610
Fill the container half full with water and add 1 cup of
chlorine bleach for each gallon the container holds.
NOTE: Do not use scented laundry bleach, powdered
bleach, or swimming pool chlorine - these contain additional chemicals that are poisonous. Finish filling the container with water (all the way to the top). Put the cap on
and lay the bottle on its side for about 3 minutes. This
allows you to check if the container leaks while the
bleach-water disinfects the cap. If the container leaks, do
not use it.
Pour the bleach-water into the next container to be sterilized. The same disinfecting bleach-water can be used for
several containers – simply "top off" the new container
with water as needed.
REMEMBER – this is not drinking water - pour down
drain when finished
Storing the water
The water containers should be stored in a cool dark
place and should not be exposed to sunlight or fumes of
petroleum products and pesticides/herbicides. They should
be checked periodically to insure that the plastic has not
cracked or developed leaks. If the containers have cracked
or leak, replace them.
Change the water in the containers
every six months.