Municipal Water: Families should consult their child’s health professional if they receive a notification by local water authorities of specific contaminants in municipal water. They may need to switch to an alternate safe source of water, which may include bottled water, for cooking and drinking until the municipal water source is remediated.
Well Water: Advise patients to take extra precautions if their water source is from a private well. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that families should test the water annually for nitrates, pH, total solids, and coliform bacteria. Test every three years for other contaminants, and test every 5 years for an expanded list of organic chemicals, or follow guidance from local water authorities. They should also test their water if there is a newborn at home, if the well cap has been damaged, if the well has been reconditioned or is new, if several family members are ill at the same time, especially with GI complaints, if neighbors report a problem with their water, after flooding or other natural disasters, and if water changes in appearance or odor.
Families installing point-of-entry filtering systems or reverse osmosis or other equipment or point-of-use filters (e.g., in the refrigerator or on the tap or under the sink) should be sure to change to new filters periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Families living in flood-prone areas should be advised to store adequate supplies of bottled drinking water (e.g., 3-days worth if evacuating; 2 weeks worth if remaining in place) in the home for an emergency. FEMA recommends 1 gallon of water per person per day.