Can You Shower During A Boil Water Order?

There is nothing quite like a hot shower to wash away the day and leave you refreshed. Clean water is an expected commodity for most Americans, and it can easily be taken for granted during our daily cleansing routine. It may come as quite a shock then, when your water department delivers you a boil water notice. But if you are told you must boil your water before using it, can you still shower?

You can still take showers when you have a water boil order. When you shower, however, be sure to avoid getting any water in your mouth, eyes, or nose. Sanitize any cuts or vulnerable areas you may have after bathing. When bathing young children and babies, consider giving them sponge baths with cleansed water to prevent any water-borne illness.

When you are trying to determine the safest way to clean your body during a boil water order, you should find out the cause for being asked to boil water. There are several reasons this type of order may be given to you and your surrounding community. Determining the cause will help you understand how toxic your water is, and how you should go about your cleaning routine.

Water boil orders are often given without warning, as they are a result of an unforeseen problem. Common reasons for boil orders include water line breaks, low water pressure in the water system and even several types of natural disasters. When these issues occur, dangerous pathogens can enter the water supply.

These issues can arise out of nowhere, and the dangers can be almost instant. This means as soon as you receive a notice, you should be sure to read it and follow it immediately. Just as there are different causes for a boil notice, there are also different severities. Be sure to read your notice carefully. This will ensure that you are taking all the appropriate precautions. Don’t be afraid to contact the proper authorities if you have a specific question.

Life must go on, even when you have a boil water order in your community. In order to get on with a normal life during these times, you must determine what behaviors you need to alter temporarily. There are certain tasks, like brushing your teeth and washing dishes, that should be done with previously boiled water, or bottled water.

When it comes to showering, as long as you have a boil water notice that does not prohibit showering, then you should feel free to do so. You should, however, be sure to take extra precautions when you shower during a boil order. Just because you can shower during these times does not mean it comes without risks.

You may need to shave while you shower. While this is entirely possible, you should do your absolute best to avoid nicks or cuts. Open cuts are possible entry points for bacteria, and can cause infection if left untreated.

If you need to shave during a boil notice, it may be best to make this an activity separate from the shower. Try using cleansed water and a sponge bath method to clean and shave the area. This way, even if you have a tiny cut you don’t need to worry about possible infection.

While it is fairly easy to safely shower most of your body during a boil order, washing your face may be a bit tricky. It is important to avoid getting water in your eyes, nose, or mouth. After all, if there is E-coli or other toxins in the water, you can get very sick, and you can get pink eye, or worse.

The key is to take your time when you wash your face. Do your best to avoid the jets of the shower from hitting you in the face. Try using a washing cloth. You may also want to consider reducing your face washing routine in the shower, and increasing it out of the shower. Outside of the shower you can use purified water to clean all your more vulnerable areas.

In theory, your young children and babies can also bathe in the same shower you use, but you may want to reconsider. Sure, it is possible and fairly easy for you to avoid water from getting in your mouth and eyes. But what is easy for you is not always easy for a child.

It is best to give babies sponge baths during a boil water notice to avoid any possible complications. After all, what might be a small toxin for an adult can be a life-threatening illness for babies.

If you have small children, sponge baths are an option. This may prove difficult, however, if your water boil order lasts longer than a few days. If you have a detachable shower head, use it to shower your children from the neck down. Sponge washing their face and hair is much easier than sponge washing their entire body for weeks. This will also help keep them healthy and clean all at once.

When you shower during a boil water order it is important to remember the precautions throughout the shower, If, however, it slips your mind for a moment, you may find yourself with water in your mouth or eye. While you should do your best to avoid these slip ups, they do happen.

When you get water in your mouth or eyes there are a few things you can do to try and prevent unnecessary illness. If you get water in your eye, try flushing it with bottled or boiled water. If water got in your mouth, rinse your mouth with disinfecting mouth wash.

Once you have tried to ensure you have removed the toxins from your mouth or eyes, you simply have to wait. Over the next several days you should monitor your body for any possible symptoms of water-borne illness.

If the effects of the water issue are highly toxic, or currently unmeasurable, you may be issued a “do not use” order in regards to your water. A do not use notice is much stricter than a boil water order. If you receive a do not use notice for your water then you should not use it at all.

The toxicity levels are likely so high they can cause damage even if not directly ingested. Do not take this lightly. Be sure to follow all recommendations, including how to properly flush your water system once it becomes safe again.