Immediate danger to life: call 999 or 112.
UK Ready is an independent information site. Current official instructions for your area take priority over this general guidance.
Sources checked 24 October 2026
The notice's wording matters. Read the affected addresses, start time and permitted uses. Keep the restriction in place until the issuing organisation changes or lifts it. Water running again does not by itself cancel a safety notice.
| Notice | Drinking and food use | Other uses |
|---|---|---|
| Boil water | Follow the notice's boiling procedure or use confirmed safe bottled water | Follow its advice about washing, bathing and cleaning; prevent accidental swallowing |
| Do not drink | Use a confirmed safe alternative for drinking, food, teeth, ice and pet water | Showering, cleaning and flushing depend on the actual notice; do not assume permission |
| Do not use | Do not use the supply for any purpose prohibited by the notice | Use a safe alternative and follow explicit instructions |
DWI advises bringing water to a rolling boil when a boil-water notice is issued, then cooling it naturally. Use the safe water for drinking, teeth, ice, food preparation, feeding equipment and pets as directed. Keep hot water away from children. If there is no safe way to boil it during a power cut, seek confirmed safe bottled or distributed water; do not bring an outdoor stove indoors.
A household filter does not replace a boil-water notice. Chemical or radiological restrictions require a different response from microbial contamination. Never convert 'do not drink' into 'boil before drinking' without explicit official advice.
During an outage: Check supplier updates and collection or delivery arrangements. Tell the provider if you cannot reach a distribution point or need extra help. Eligibility for a Priority Services Register can help providers understand your needs, but does not promise immediate water delivery.
If the water was confirmed safe before an expected interruption, use clean food-grade containers to store it. Do not fill them from a source already subject to contamination restrictions. Keep drinking water separate from water intended only for permitted toilet or cleaning use.
On restoration: Follow instructions about flushing taps, cleaning connected appliances, replacing filters and discarding ice. For an ordinary outage, some temporary discolouration can occur; after a contamination incident, use the specific advice rather than simply running a tap until the water looks clear.
Follow the notice from your water supplier or local authority exactly. A boil-water notice addresses microbial risks and has specific instructions. A notice to stop using the supply is different: use bottled water or the alternative supply provided.
Don't turn a restriction into homemade treatment or assume boiling overrides it.