What to do if…
your building water is being shut off for emergency repairs

What to do now

1. Confirm the basics from the water utility, city water department, landlord, or building manager. Ask for the start time, expected duration, affected areas, update route, and whether bottled water or another water point will be provided if the repair runs long.

2. Store drinking water before the shut-off starts. A practical baseline is at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days. Store more if you can for infants, pregnancy, illness, pets, hot weather, or anyone who needs extra water.

3. Fill only clean containers for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth. If you have unopened bottled water, keep it for drinking and food. Do not use containers that previously held chemicals, fuel, bleach, pesticides, or cleaners.

4. Set aside non-drinking water for toilets and cleaning. Fill a bucket, basin, or bathtub part-way if that is safe in your home. Clearly keep this water away from children and pets, and do not use it for drinking.

5. Reduce water use before the shut-off. Pause laundry and dishwashing, turn off automatic ice making if you know how, and avoid starting anything that depends on a water line.

6. Make hygiene easier. Put out hand sanitizer, wipes, paper towels, trash bags, and a small amount of stored water for handwashing if sanitizer is not enough.

7. Make food simple. Use ready-to-eat food, food that does not need washing, or meals that use very little water. Keep clean cups, plates, or disposable items available if washing dishes will be difficult.

8. If anyone has higher water needs, tell building management now. This includes infants, pregnancy, illness, mobility limits, pets, or water-dependent medical equipment. For medical equipment, contact the device supplier, clinician, or care team for situation-specific instructions.

9. If you rent, make a simple record. Save the notice, take a screenshot or photo, and send one brief written message to the landlord or building manager confirming the shut-off window and asking how updates will be shared if it runs long.

10. When service returns, use a cold tap first. Run it for a few minutes, or for the time your utility or building gives, until the flow is steady. If the water stays cloudy, brown, gritty, has an unusual smell, or pressure is still very low, stop using it for drinking and contact the utility or building manager.

11. If there is any drinking-water advisory, follow the exact advisory. During a boil water advisory, use bottled or properly boiled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and pets. During a do not drink advisory, use bottled water for drinking and cooking because boiling may not make the water safe. During a do not use advisory, do not use tap water for any purpose until officials say it is safe.

12. If the outage becomes prolonged in a rental, ask local officials what applies where you live. Running water and habitability rules vary by state and city. Contact local code enforcement, the local health department, local legal aid, or 211 for help finding the right local service.