• Boil water before use, holding it at rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.
• Disinfect water by adding 8 drops (about 1/8 tsp – this would form a puddle about the size of a dime) of plain unscented household bleach (4 to 6% strength) per gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure once. If high strength bleach is used (8.25% strength), add 7 drops
• Use a container that has a cap or cover for disinfecting and storing water to be used for drinking. This will prevent contamination; or
• Use bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula. After the flooding subsides:
• Disinfect your well using the procedures available from your county health department or provided on the Florida Department of Health Private Well Testing web page, http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/private-well-testing/index.html.
• Have your water tested by your county health department or by a laboratory certified by The State of Florida to perform a drinking water analysis for coliform bacteria.
For further information, please contact your local county health department or visit www.floridahealth.gov or www.FloridaDisaster.org. ###
-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office