Is my water safe to drink? Which areas are affected? Q&A about Charlotte main break

A large water main break late Monday afternoon in the 1400 block of Remount Road affected service in 16 Charlotte ZIP codes, according to Charlotte Water.

All service has been restored, the city utility reported at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, but residential and business customers may still need to take precautions, officials said.

Here are questions about the break and its aftermath and answers by Charlotte Water officials in updates emailed to the news media and posted on the department’s social media channels.

Q. Is my water safe to drink?

A. “Out of an abundance of caution,” the city advised customers who experienced low or no pressure in their taps to boil the water before consuming it. No illnesses have been reported, officials said Tuesday, and it’s fine to use your water if you didn’t experience low or no pressure.

Q. Should I boil my water if I did have low pressure?

A. Yes. The city has a water boil advisory in effect.

Q. When should I boil the water?

A. If it’s being used for human consumption. That includes before you drink the water, make ice from it and brush your teeth or wash dishes with it. Allow it to boil “vigorously” for about a minute, the city advises.

Q. What if I don’t know if my water pressure was low?

A. Boil the water as a precaution.

Q. Can I shower with the water?

A. Yes. The city’s advisory is for water you’re going to drink or otherwise ingest from your taps.

Q. Is bottled water safer than boiled water?

A. Yes, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “In emergency situations, use bottled water if possible,” the CDC says on its website. “Bottled water is the safest choice for drinking and all other uses.”

Otherwise, boil the water or use disinfectants, according to the agency.

Q. What about filtering water?

A. Many but not all available home water filters can remove disease-causing parasites such as cryptosporidium and giardia from drinking water, the CDC says. The agency suggests pick a water filter that has a pore size small enough to remove parasites.

Q. What should I do if my water is discolored?

A. Run the cold water tap for 10 to 15 minutes or until the water is clear, according to Charlotte Water.

“Iron particles settle out of the water and accumulate in the bottom of water mains,” Charlotte Water said in a release. “During a water main break or outage, these mineral deposits are dislodged and can cause cloudy or discolored water.”

Q. What ZIP codes are affected?

A. 28105, 28202, 28203, 28205, 28206, 28207, 28208, 28209, 28211, 28212, 28213, 28214, 28215, 28216, 28217, 28277.

Those ZIP codes are based on customer calls and social media reports, according to the city. The list will be updated as more information is reported, officials said.

Q. What is Charlotte Water doing to ensure drinking water safety after the break?

A. Charlotte Water says its workers monitor drinking water from more than 300 water quality stations. “Technicians have taken samples for laboratory testing,” the department said in a news release. “Sampling will continue and will determine future guidance about the advisory.”

Q. What caused the break?

A. The city doesn’t know yet but is investigating.

Q. What actions did the city take after the break?

A. Charlotte Water said its crews worked quickly to close valves, isolate the break and start restoring service.

Q. What’s next?

A. Charlotte Water will test samples for several days and provide regular updates via media releases, its website and its social media channels.