From June 1 to November 30, Florida will experience its annual hurricane season. Toho Water Authority (Toho) would like to inform its customers of key information regarding water preparedness in the event of a hurricane. A little bit of water wisdom can go a long way when making your hurricane plan.
Water: Not just for drinking!
During hurricane preparation, water isn’t just for drinking, but also for activities such as cooking, bathing or even washing your dishes. It’s recommended to put your storing methods into two categories.
• Potable Water–You can store drinking water in clean, food-grade storage containers with lids. This water can be used for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and washing the dishes. It’s crucial to keep one gallon of potable water per person per day for at least three days. If you have any pets, you’ll want to keep extra water for your beloved companions, too.
• Non-Potable Water–You’ll need space to store water that doesn’t involve food preparation or ingestion. Your options include filling up the bathtub with water, filling up a new garbage can and utilizing coolers or other large containers you might have on hand.
Know your water advisories!
A hurricane may interrupt water services. When water services are restored, Toho may have to issue a boil water advisory.
Precautionary Boil Water Advisory–This advisory is issued when a water system experiences a loss of pressure. While the water is being tested for quality assurance, customers are advised to boil their water for one minute before consumption until this notice is lifted.
Mandatory Boil Water Advisory–If a water test shows confirmed contamination in the water system, water will need to be boiled for one minute before consumption until the notice is lifted. This type of advisory is rarely issued.
Water used for laundry or bathing/showering does not need to be boiled.
If you cannot boil water, add eight drops of unscented household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Stir well and let stand 30 minutes before using. Alternatively, purification tablets can be used. They can be bought from most sporting goods stores and pharmacies.
How can I know if a boil water advisory is in effect or has been lifted?
All advisories will be posted to tohowater.com/hurricane and on our News & Alerts section on tohowater.com. Customers will also be notified if an advisory is issued or lifted in one or more of the following methods:
• Door hanger left on front door
• Phone call and text message
• Media outlets
• Social media (Facebook, NextDoor and X)
Visit tohowater.com/hurricane to find useful tips for your hurricane plan and how you too can help get your community back to normal as quickly as possible. Also learn how Toho responds before, during and after a hurricane and what to expect. Stay connected, stay informed and stay safe during this hurricane season.
