Can I Feed Infant New Orleans Tap Water

When a precautionary boil water advisory is issued in New Orleans, residents and businesses should take certain precautions. Here's what the State Department of Health and Hospitals recommends you do until the advisory is lifted.

Residents in the affected area should not use tap water to drink, make ice or brush teeth until further notice, according to the State Department of Health and Hospitals. Residents in the affected area that are immune-compromised are advised not to wash hands, shower or bathe. All other residents should take the following precautions via NOLA Ready.

Don't drink tap water

• Use bottled or boiled water to drink, cook, brush teeth and mix baby formula.

Be careful bathing

• If you're a healthy adult, you can bathe or shower with tap water. Be careful not to swallow any water.

Take care cleaning

• Wash countertops and tables with boiled water.

Boil water safely

• Heat water until large bubbles come from the bottom to the top of the pot.

Pets and plants

• Dogs and cats: Many pets are drinking water when they are outside and seldom get sick, so tap water is relatively safe. The safest option is to give them boiled or bottled water.

Health care facilities and daycares

Drinking water: Patients, visitors, staff should not drink water from the tap. Use bottled water.

Water fountains: Do not use water fountains. Place clearly labeled signs on each fountain.

Coffee machines: Do not put tap water to percolate. Percolating is not sufficient to inactivate all microorganisms. Water must be boiled for two minutes before being put through the machine.

Hot water taps: Do not use water from hot water taps because the time/temperature is not sufficient to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms.

Ice machines: Do not use ice machines. Place clearly labeled signs on each machine. Ice from the ice maker may be used if it can be positively confirmed that it was all made well in advance of the boil water order/notice.

Brushing teeth and dentures: Do not brush teeth with tap water. Dentures should not be soaked in tap water.

Bath for newborn infants: Do not use tap water to bathe infants. Use bottled water or boiled water that has been cooled. (Make sure that it has been properly cooled.)

Bath and shower: For a precautionary advisory, tap water may be used for patients with healthy immune systems. Use bottled or boiled water for infants, young children and anyone with a weakened immune system. For an advisory with evidence of contamination: do not use tap water for bath or shower.

Sitz bath: For a precautionary advisory tap water may be used with addition of an antiseptic for patients with healthy immune systems. Use bottled or boiled water for infants, young children and anyone with a weakened immune system. For an advisory with evidence of contamination do not use tap water.

Toilet: there is no restriction or concern about using toilets.

Wound care: Do not use tap water.

Eye care: Use normal saline.

Handwashing (staff): If hands are not soiled, use hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are not effective if hands are wet or visibly soiled. If hands are wet, dry them before applying hand sanitizers. If hands are visibly soiled, wash them preferably with boiled water or disposable wipes. Once dry, use hand sanitizers.

Humidifiers and other equipment using water: Use boiled or bottled water.

Laundry, environmental cleaning (floors): Tap water may be used. Equipment/Carts should not be cleaned with tap water. Use disinfectant solutions.

Any instrument /equipment connected to the plumbing system should not be used.

Food preparation at health care facilities and daycares

Use boiled water or bottled water to wash fruits or vegetables, and for all food & drink preparation.

Consider changing the menu to remove items that are difficult to prepare with limited water.

Add menu items that require little or no water for preparation.

Change food sources, switch to pre-washed produce, canned vegetables and bottled drinks.

Use single-service tableware.

Discontinue use of post-mix beverage equipment.

What to do after advisory is lifted

• Flush pipes and faucets by running cold water faucets continuously for at least 5

Why was a boil water advisory issued?

New Orleans' water system is a highly pressurized network that pumps drinking water throughout the city. Much of that pressure is powered by turbines at the power plant. The pressure is important not only for moving water to the far reaches of the city, but also for keeping groundwater from seeping through cracks in its ancient pipes. Should pressure drop, the water can become contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria. Hence the boil water advisory.

More tips

The Louisiana Office of Public Health has more tips available on its website. Read them here.

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NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporter Richard Rainey contributed to this story.

Carlie Kollath Wells is a morning reporter at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Have an early-bird tip? Send it to her: cwells@nola.com or Twitter @carlie_kollath.

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Source: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/health_fitness/article_44d8e869-8b7a-5b09-95b0-5809c156e753.html

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