Emergencies come in all forms, whether they are fires, floods or earthquakes. Any of these could cause disruptions in water service, so it is best to be prepared. In honor of Emergency Preparedness Month, here are the top four things you need to know about your water

in an emergency:

1. CodeRED.The first step toward preparing for a water emergency is signing up for CodeRED, the IRWD high-volume, high-speed system for mass emergency notifications. Customers have the option of receiving voice, email or text messages whenever there is an emergency. To sign up for CodeRED, visit www.irwd.com and click on “Emergency & CodeRED.” From there, click on “CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment Form.”

2. Water Storage.A supply of stored water may be your most important survival item. Several

gallons of stored water per person can last two weeks. Commercially bottled water is one option. Containers of heavy, opaque plastic with screw-on lids are best if you bottle your own water. All stored water should be clearly labeled and replenished every six months.

3. Boil Water.After a disaster, tap water may be polluted. Water boiled for five minutes will usually be safe from contamination. If boiling is not an option, strain the water through paper towels, paper coffee filters, or several layers of clean cloth to remove any sediment. Treat the water with household liquid chlorine bleach. Add eight drops of bleach per gallon of clear water, or 16 drops if water is cloudy.

4. Safe Water.There are hidden sources of safe water in your home you may use without purifying. Turn off the energy supply to the water heater and let the tank cool. Let air into the tank by opening a hot water faucet, or disconnecting the hot water line at the top of the tank. Open the faucet at the bottom of the tank to drain water into a clean container. Melted ice cubes from your freezer and many canned foods are packed in water, like vegetables and

beans. Water from the toilet tank, not the bowl, can be a water source unless chemicals have been added for cleaning purposes.

Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500