Recent flooding due to the hurricane may have compromised or contaminated some water supplies, including the water coming from several large public water companies. State and local officials are monitoring water quality very carefully to ensure that any potential contaminants are identified quickly and everyone is informed appropriately. Several water companies in Northern New Jersey have issued official advisories stating that consumers should boil or treat their water, use bottled water or other alternatives until water quality returns to a safe level. Individuals should call their local water supplier to determine if they are affected and need to boil or treat their water, and to find out when the advisory is lifted. The preferred method of treatment is boiling.
Boiling water kills harmful bacteria and parasites.
However, this treatment will not kill parasitic organisms. Mix the solution thoroughly, and let stand for about thirty minutes. Allow the water to stand at least 30 minutes before it is used. Disease transmission from contaminated water occurs principally by ingesting water. The major organisms of concern are parasites, such as, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and bacteria, such as Shigella and E. coli .