Protecting Your Water and Wastewater Service Before, During and After a Storm
When a hurricane threatens Florida, preparing your home and family is essential. FGUA helps customers understand how severe weather may affect drinking water and wastewater service, and what they can do before, during and after a storm.
Use this page to prepare your household water supply, protect your plumbing and wastewater system, get up-to-date water safety notices and find current FGUA service information.
For evacuation guidance, shelter information and general hurricane safety, follow instructions from state and local emergency-management officials.
Before the Storm
A hurricane can disrupt power, transportation and utility operations. Preparing your water supply and learning where to find FGUA service information can help your household respond safely if conditions change.
Prepare Your Emergency Water Supply
Store at least one gallon of drinking water per person, per day for at least three days. In Florida’s heat, households with children, older adults, people with medical needs or pets should keep additional water available.
Bottled water is the simplest option, but clean, food-grade containers may also be used. Store water in a cool, dark place, and do not wait until a storm is approaching to begin preparing your supply.
Store Water for Non-Drinking Uses
Before a storm arrives, fill clean bathtubs or large containers with water for non-drinking uses, such as flushing toilets or basic cleaning.
Do not use water stored in a bathtub for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth unless emergency officials say it is safe and provide instructions for properly treating it.
Save Important FGUA Information
Before a storm approaches:
Prepare Your Plumbing and Wastewater System
Heavy rainfall, flooding and power loss can affect drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Pumps, treatment equipment and wastewater lift stations depend on electrical power to operate. Power failures, line damage and excess stormwater entering sanitary sewer systems can contribute to sewer overflows and backups.
Before severe weather arrives:
Know Where Your Water Shutoff Is
Locate your home’s main water shutoff valve before hurricane season and make sure the area remains accessible. Every adult in the household should know where the valve is and how to operate it.
If a pipe breaks during a storm, turning off the household water supply quickly may help limit property damage.
NOT ALL HOMES HAVE A SHUTOFF VALVE.
During the Storm
Conditions can change quickly during a hurricane. Follow instructions from emergency-management officials and check FGUA’s website for information affecting drinking water or wastewater service in your area.
Monitor Service Information
During an active storm:
Why Can a Power Outage Affect Water or Wastewater Service?
Water and wastewater systems rely on electricity to operate pumps, treatment equipment, monitoring systems and other essential infrastructure.
For drinking water service, electrically-powered equipment helps treat water, move it through the system and maintain water pressure. Wastewater lift stations use pumps to move sewage from lower elevations toward treatment facilities.
Some facilities have permanent backup generators. Other locations may be supported by portable generators that must be transported, correctly sized, safely connected and supplied with fuel. During a widespread power outage, crews may need to assess conditions, prioritize critical facilities and deploy generators where they are needed most.
As a result, customers may experience low water pressure, temporary service interruptions, water-conservation requests or limits on wastewater use even when pipes and treatment facilities have not been physically damaged.
Follow all FGUA instructions and check Outages & Notices before returning to normal water use.
How Customers Can Help
If FGUA asks customers to conserve water or limit wastewater use:
Stay Away from Floodwater and Utility Equipment
Do not walk, swim or allow children or pets to play in floodwater. Floodwater may contain raw sewage, chemicals, debris and other hazards.
For your safety:
See a Water or Wastewater Emergency?
Report:
Stay away from floodwater, open manholes and damaged utility equipment. Do not attempt to inspect or repair public utility infrastructure yourself.
After the Storm
Water or wastewater service may not return to normal immediately after severe weather passes. FGUA crews may need to inspect facilities, respond to power interruptions, deploy backup equipment, repair damage and complete water-quality testing before normal service can safely resume.
Check Before Returning to Normal Water Use
After the storm:
Water Pressure Restored?
Restored water pressure does not necessarily mean a precautionary boil water notice has been lifted. Continue following the notice until FGUA publishes an official update.
Report Damage and Wastewater Problems
Stay away from standing water that may contain wastewater. Sewer overflows can contaminate surrounding water, damage property and create public-health risks.
Contact FGUA if you observe:
Stay away from open manholes, floodwater and damaged utility equipment. Do not attempt to inspect or repair FGUA infrastructure.
If your home’s private plumbing was flooded or damaged, contact a licensed plumber before making repairs or returning the system to normal use.
What is a Precautionary Boil Water Notice?
FGUA may issue a precautionary boil water notice when there is a possibility that water quality has been affected. A notice does not necessarily mean contamination has been confirmed. It means customers should follow additional safety precautions while the water system is evaluated.
During a notice, water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice or washing dishes may need to be boiled or otherwise disinfected. Always follow the instructions included in the specific notice.
What Should I Do?
While a precautionary boil water notice is active, use commercially bottled water or water that has been brought to a full rolling boil for at least one minute and allowed to cool. Home water filters do not replace boiling during a precautionary boil water notice.
Use ready-to-feed infant formula when possible. When preparing powdered or concentrated formula, follow the instructions in the specific notice and current public-health guidance.
Do not use water or ice from a refrigerator dispenser or ice maker connected to the household water line while the notice is active.
Boil. Cool. Use Safely.
Can I Bathe or Wash Clothes?
Tap water may generally be used for bathing, showering, shaving and washing during a precautionary Boil Water Notice, as long as the water is not swallowed. Avoid getting water in the eyes, nose or mouth, and carefully supervise babies, young children and anyone who may have difficulty avoiding swallowing water.
People with recent surgical wounds, weakened immune systems or certain chronic illnesses should ask a healthcare provider whether bottled or boiled water should be used for bathing.
Laundry may be washed normally. Always follow the instructions in the specific FGUA notice.
Can I Wash Dishes?
Use disposable plates, cups and utensils when possible.
A dishwasher may be used if it has a sanitizing cycle or reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F. Check the appliance manual if you are unsure.
To wash dishes by hand, wash and rinse them normally. Then soak the rinsed dishes for at least one minute in a solution of one teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach per gallon of warm water. Allow dishes to air-dry completely.
How Will I Know When the Notice Is Lifted?
FGUA will notify affected customers when testing is complete and it is safe to resume normal tap-water use.
FGUA usually provides a door hanger at affected homes. Depending on the situation, information may also be posted through FGUA’s Outages & Notices page, on social media or shared through local media and county health officials. Customers can also call their local FGUA office for the latest information.
Continue following all precautions until FGUA officially announces that the notice has been lifted.
If You Cannot Boil Water
Follow current CDC instructions for disinfecting water with unscented household chlorine bleach. The correct amount depends on the bleach concentration shown on the product label.
Chemical disinfection is less effective than boiling against some germs. Always follow the instructions in the specific FGUA notice.
Planning for Medical and Access Needs
A water, power or transportation disruption can create additional challenges for people who depend on medical equipment, regular treatments, medications or caregiver support.
If you or someone in your household has medical or access needs, develop an emergency plan with your healthcare provider before a storm approaches. Your plan should account for possible changes to water service, electricity, transportation and access to treatment.
PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
Before hurricane season:
Plan With Your Healthcare Provider
Different treatments and medical devices have different water-quality, power and supply requirements. Do not assume that bottled, boiled or stored water is suitable for a particular medical use.
Follow instructions from your healthcare provider, treatment center or equipment supplier.
If You Receive Dialysis
Power outages, road closures and facility disruptions may make it difficult to receive dialysis during or after a hurricane.
Before a storm:
People using home dialysis should develop a specific plan with their dialysis team for loss of power, loss of water and temporary access to in-center treatment. CDC and the federal dialysis emergency-response program provide dedicated planning resources for patients and caregivers.
Florida’s Special Needs Registry
Florida residents who may need help with evacuation, transportation, sheltering, medical equipment or access to medication can register with the Florida Special Needs Registry.
Registration helps local emergency-management agencies plan for residents who may need additional assistance. Each county manages its own evacuation and sheltering process.
Register before a storm approaches and keep your information current. Registration does not automatically guarantee placement in a special-needs shelter or assistance during an emergency.
Preparing Pets and Animals
Pets depend on their owners for safe water, shelter and transportation during an emergency. Include every animal in your household’s hurricane plan and prepare supplies before a storm enters the forecast.
Build a Pet Emergency Kit
Include:
CDC recommends preparing up to a two-week supply of food, water and medication for each pet when possible. Florida emergency officials also recommend keeping records, supplies and pet identification together in a portable kit.
Include Pets in Your Evacuation Plan
Identify where you will take your pets if you must evacuate. Not every emergency shelter accepts household pets, although service animals are permitted.
Before hurricane season:
Pets may behave differently when frightened or displaced. Keep dogs securely leashed and transport cats and other small animals in appropriate carriers.
Safe Water for Pets
Include pets when calculating your household’s emergency water supply.
During a precautionary boil water notice, give pets commercially bottled water or tap water that has been boiled and allowed to cool. Pets can become sick from some of the same germs that affect people.
Do not allow pets to drink or play in floodwater, standing water or suspected wastewater.
Fish and Aquariums
Aquariums and aquatic animals may require special preparation for power outages and changes in tap-water availability.
Before hurricane season, ask a veterinarian or qualified aquarium professional how to maintain appropriate temperature, aeration, filtration and water quality for the species you keep. Prepare any recommended backup equipment and supplies in advance.
Do not add floodwater or another unapproved water source to an aquarium. During a precautionary boil water notice, follow the notice carefully and consult an aquarium professional before using affected tap water.
Not necessarily. However, power outages, flooding, damaged infrastructure, broken water mains or other severe conditions can affect drinking water or wastewater operations. Pumps and treatment equipment may require electricity to operate, and wastewater lift stations may also be affected by a loss of power.
Prepare an emergency water supply even when no interruption is expected. Check FGUA’s Outages & Notices page for information affecting your area.
Storm damage may affect electricity, roads, treatment facilities or individual water lines with little warning. Stored water gives your household a safe backup for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene if service or water quality is temporarily affected.
Store at least one gallon of water per person, per day for at least three days, with additional water for Florida heat, pets and household members with greater needs.
Know where your home’s main water shutoff valve is located and make sure every adult in the household knows how to use it. If a pipe breaks during a storm, turning off the water quickly may help prevent additional property damage.
See Before the Storm for additional household plumbing guidance.
Check FGUA’s Outages & Notices page to see whether an interruption or advisory has been posted for your area.
If the issue is not listed, contact the FGUA customer-service number serving your location. After a significant loss of pressure, check for and follow any precautionary boil water notice before resuming normal water use.
Avoid contact with wastewater and keep children and pets away from the affected area. Do not open a manhole or attempt to repair public wastewater equipment.
Report sewer overflows or suspected FGUA infrastructure problems through the emergency contact number for your service area. Contact a licensed plumber if the problem appears limited to private household plumbing.
Each notice identifies the affected service area and provides instructions for customers. Check the address, neighborhood or system information carefully.
Continue following the notice until FGUA officially announces that it has been lifted. The return of water pressure does not by itself mean normal water use may resume.
FGUA’s Outages & Notices page should be your primary source for information about outages, precautionary boil water notices and other service conditions.
During an active storm, FGUA may also post information on its homepage, Newsroom and official social media accounts.
Private wells require different storm precautions and are generally the property owner’s responsibility.
Floodwater can contaminate private wells. A well that has been submerged should not be used for drinking until it has been inspected, disinfected and tested. Contact your county health department or a licensed well or septic professional for guidance.
Emergency and Preparedness Resources
Use the resources below for broader hurricane forecasts, evacuation information, shelters, medical planning and animal safety.
FGUA Service Information
Florida and Local Emergency Information
National Hurricane and Safety Resources
Medical and Accessibility Resources
Pet and Animal Resources
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