Portland boil water alert lifted: Here’s what to do

The Oregon Health Authority has lifted Portland’s boil water alert that was issued on Friday.

But, as Lynne Terry of The Oregonian writes, before using tap water, running-tap-wateror using ice from a machine, here’s what residents need to do:

  • Flush pipes and faucets by running cold water faucets continuously for at least two minutes or until water runs cold.
  • Flush water coolers by running those with direct water connections for five minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Flush home automatic ice makers by making three batches of ice cubes. Discard all three batches.
  • Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
  • Drain and refill hot water heaters set below 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Change all point-of-entry and point-of-use water filters, including those associated with equipment that uses water.