RPU Boil Water Advisory Desk: Check, Boil, Use Safely, Then Flush
Use this page during a Rochester Public Utilities boil water advisory to know whether you are affected, what water must be boiled, what is safe for bathing or laundry, what to do for babies and pets, and which RPU number to call.
Start Here: Are You Under an RPU Boil Water Advisory?
Question in your mind |
Fast answer |
Official route |
Do not miss |
|---|---|---|---|
Is there an active boil water advisory? |
Check RPU’s Water page, News/Media Releases, and any direct RPU notice sent to your address. |
Do not rely only on social media screenshots or old maps. |
|
Was the May 2026 NW Rochester advisory still active? |
No. RPU later posted that the advisory for the NW high level pressure zone was lifted after pressure returned and lab testing showed no contamination. |
Old advisory boundaries do not mean your address is affected today. |
|
What area was affected in that example? |
Northwest Rochester near the 65th Street NW and U.S. Highway 52 corridor, including areas near Overland Drive NW, Bandel Road NW, Boulder Ridge Drive NW, Boulder Ridge, and Overland Pointe. |
Use the current RPU notice for current boundaries. |
|
What should I do if I am affected? |
Boil tap water at a rolling boil for at least 1 minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, or preparing infant formula. |
Boil even if the water went through a refrigerator filter, pitcher filter, or home filter. |
|
Can I shower or wash clothes? |
During a boil advisory, bathing, showering, and laundry may usually continue, but avoid swallowing water and use caution with babies and young children. |
Use sponge baths for young children if they may swallow bath water. |
|
Should I call 911? |
No for advisory questions. RPU says contact RPU for more information and do not call 911. |
Use 911 only for true life-safety emergencies. |
Most important rule: if RPU says your address is under a boil water advisory, use bottled water or boiled-and-cooled water for anything that goes into your mouth until RPU says the advisory is lifted.
Official RPU Contacts for Water Advisory Questions
RPU Service Center
Rochester Public Utilities
4000 East River Rd NE
Rochester, MN 55906
Lobby: Monday-Friday, 8 AM-4:30 PM
Customer Care
Phone: 507-280-1500
Hours by phone: Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM
Email: customercare@rpu.org
Situation |
Number / route |
Use this when |
What to prepare |
|---|---|---|---|
Boil advisory question during business hours |
You need to know if your address is affected, whether advisory is lifted, or what the latest RPU instruction says. |
Address, cross street, phone/email, advisory notice if received. |
|
Water outage / no water 8 AM-5 PM |
No water, water pressure loss, or water outage during the day. |
Address, all taps vs one tap, neighbors affected, time started. |
|
Water outage / no water 5 PM-8 AM |
No water, significant pressure loss, or water emergency after hours. |
Exact address, cross street, pressure level, visible street leak. |
|
Sewer backup or overflow |
Wastewater backup, overflow, or sanitary sewer emergency. |
Backup location, fixture affected, basement/floor drain status, safety risk. |
|
General EPA water safety questions |
General drinking-water safety guidance, not RPU account-specific questions. |
Type of advisory, contaminant concern if known, local utility notice. |
What to Do During a Boil Water Advisory
1. Use bottled water if available
Use commercially bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, ice, and formula when you have it.
2. Boil clear tap water
Bring water to a full rolling boil for at least 1 minute, then cool before use.
3. Filter cloudy water first
If water is cloudy, filter through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter before boiling.
4. Store safely
Use clean, covered containers. Label “boiled” water and keep it away from unboiled tap water.
Use |
Use bottled or boiled water? |
Plain-language instruction |
|---|---|---|
Drinking |
Yes |
Use bottled water or water boiled for 1 minute and cooled. |
Cooking / food preparation |
Yes |
Boil water first, then use it for cooking, washing produce, or preparing food. |
Brushing teeth |
Yes |
Do not brush teeth with unboiled tap water. |
Making ice |
Yes |
Throw away existing ice made after the advisory began. Make new ice only with boiled/cooled or bottled water. |
Refrigerator water/ice dispenser |
Do not use during advisory |
Water and ice from appliances connected to your water line should not be used during the advisory. |
Baby formula |
Yes |
Ready-to-feed formula is best during an advisory. If powdered formula is used, follow local health advice and CDC preparation rules. |
Pets |
Yes |
Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. |
Bathing / showering |
Usually no, but avoid swallowing |
Use caution with babies and young children; sponge bath lowers swallowing risk. |
Laundry |
No |
Clothes can usually be washed as normal. |
Handwashing |
Usually tap water and soap are acceptable |
Follow RPU/local public health instructions; use sanitizer if soap/water are unavailable. |
Do not over-read a boil advisory: a boil water advisory is different from a “do not drink” or “do not use” advisory. If officials say chemicals, fuel, toxins, or “do not use,” boiling is not enough. Follow the exact notice.
Food, Baby Formula, Ice, Pets and Dishes
Babies and formula
- Use ready-to-feed formula if possible.
- Use bottled water if tap water is unsafe.
- If boiling water, let it cool to room temperature before mixing unless following extra infant formula precautions.
- Always test temperature before feeding.
Ice and fridge dispensers
- Do not use refrigerator water or ice during the advisory.
- Discard ice made during the advisory.
- After the advisory is lifted, flush dispenser lines and discard the first new ice batches.
- Replace filters if the manufacturer or local notice recommends it.
Hand-washing dishes
- Use disposable plates if possible.
- Wash and rinse normally with hot water.
- Sanitize in a separate basin with 1 teaspoon unscented bleach per gallon of warm water.
- Soak at least 1 minute and air dry completely.
Special situation |
Best choice |
Why |
|---|---|---|
Infant under 2 months, premature, or weakened immune system |
Use ready-to-feed formula if possible; follow CDC extra precautions. |
These infants are at higher risk from bacteria that can contaminate powdered formula or unsafe water. |
Pet water bowls |
Bottled water or boiled water cooled first. |
Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people. |
Dishwasher use |
Use only if it has a sanitizing cycle or final rinse reaches at least 150°F. |
Heat/sanitize step helps reduce risk. |
Kitchen prep surfaces and toys |
Clean with bottled, boiled, or properly disinfected water. |
Kids and food-contact surfaces can transfer germs to the mouth. |
Garden and houseplants |
Tap water generally acceptable. |
CDC says tap water can be used for gardens and houseplants during boil advisories. |
How RPU Advisory Areas Are Described
RPU advisory boundaries can change by event. A water main break, pressure-zone issue, repair, or testing area may affect only certain blocks or neighborhoods, not all Rochester water customers.
Example: May 2026 NW advisory area
RPU described the affected area as Northwest Rochester near the 65th Street NW and U.S. Highway 52 corridor. The release named areas along and near 65th Street NW, Overland Drive NW, Bandel Road NW, Boulder Ridge Drive NW, and portions of Boulder Ridge and Overland Pointe.
How to verify your exact address
- Check the current RPU notice date.
- Look for named streets, pressure zones, or map boundaries.
- Call 507-280-1500 with your service address.
- Do not assume nearby brown water means your home is under a boil advisory unless RPU says so.
Publisher note: if you update this article during a live advisory, add a dated top notice with the affected streets/zone exactly as RPU writes them, plus the time issued and the latest lift status.
Rusty, Brown, Yellow, Orange or Cloudy Water
Common causes
RPU says discoloration can come from hydrant flushing, water main repairs, construction, sudden changes in flow, firefighting, or naturally occurring minerals such as iron and manganese.
First step
Run a cold-water faucet closest to where water service enters the home for 5-15 minutes or until clear. Avoid hot water until cold water runs clear.
Call RPU when
Contact RPU if water remains discolored after 15-20 minutes, pressure drops significantly, discoloration lasts for hours, or you have water-quality concerns.
What you see |
What to do |
Why it matters during advisory confusion |
|---|---|---|
Brown or rusty cold water after repair/flushing |
Run cold water 5-15 minutes; delay light laundry. |
Discoloration does not automatically equal boil advisory, but pressure loss or RPU notice may. |
Only one faucet affected |
Check faucet aerator and plumbing at that fixture. |
Single-fixture issue may be home plumbing rather than RPU system issue. |
All faucets affected with pressure drop |
Call RPU water outage/emergency route. |
Pressure loss can be related to water main work or advisory conditions. |
Hot water discolored |
Let cold water clear first; avoid drawing sediment into water heater. |
Using hot water too soon can move sediment into the tank. |
Discoloration persists for hours |
Call RPU Customer Care. |
RPU staff can check whether maintenance is occurring nearby. |
Official RPU page:
After RPU Lifts a Boil Water Advisory
1. Confirm official lift
Use RPU’s notice, direct alert, or phone confirmation. Do not stop boiling based on rumor.
2. Flush cold taps
If RPU notes rusty water, run cold taps until water clears.
3. Discard ice
Throw away ice made during the advisory and flush refrigerator dispenser lines.
4. Check filters
Follow manufacturer instructions for filters, softeners, fridge filters, and water treatment devices.
Item after lift |
Action |
Reason |
|---|---|---|
Cold-water faucets |
Run cold water until clear, especially if rusty/discolored water appears. |
RPU’s lifted notice says to run cold taps if rusty water appears. |
Refrigerator water dispenser |
Flush line according to appliance instructions. |
Water from connected appliances should not be used during the advisory. |
Ice maker |
Discard existing ice and first new batches after flushing. |
Ice may have been made with affected water. |
Water filters |
Replace or clean according to manufacturer instructions. |
Filters do not replace boiling during an advisory and may need maintenance after. |
Dishwasher / baby bottles |
Run sanitize cycle or sanitize baby bottles as needed. |
Food-contact and infant items need extra caution. |
Businesses / restaurants |
Follow Olmsted County/MDH/local health instructions before reopening normal water use. |
Food establishments may have additional public-health requirements. |
Current-status wording to use: “RPU has lifted the advisory only when water quality testing is complete and the official notice says normal use can resume.”
Restaurants, Clinics, Schools, Offices and Apartments
Property type |
Immediate checklist |
Who should confirm |
|---|---|---|
Restaurant / coffee shop |
Stop using tap water for drinks, ice, produce washing, food prep, and dishwashing unless health guidance allows a safe method. |
Manager, food safety lead, local health department. |
Clinic / dental / healthcare |
Use bottled/sterile water according to internal infection-control rules; do not use tap-connected devices unless cleared. |
Facility manager, infection-control lead, local health officials. |
School / daycare |
Disable fountains, provide safe water, check kitchen/ice machines, use extra caution for children. |
Administrator, facilities staff, public health contact. |
Apartment / condo |
Notify tenants, elevators/lobbies/mailrooms, common ice/water machines, and maintenance staff. |
Property manager and RPU account holder. |
Business with employees |
Post notice at sinks, break rooms, water coolers, ice machines, and bathrooms. |
Site manager / safety officer. |
Hotel / short-term rental |
Notify guests, remove ice buckets, disable ice machines, provide bottled water. |
Front desk, housekeeping, owner/operator. |
Why RPU Boil Advisories Happen
Water main break
RPU’s May 2026 advisory was tied to a water main break. Breaks can cause pressure drops, repairs, and precautionary testing before normal use resumes.
Loss of pressure
Pressure loss can create risk that outside water or contaminants enter the distribution system, which is why boiling may be required until testing is complete.
Testing before lift
RPU said water quality testing would be conducted before the advisory was lifted; its lifted notice said testing showed no contamination.
RPU water system fact |
Helpful context |
Why it matters to searchers |
|---|---|---|
RPU serves more than 42,000 water customers |
Not every advisory affects every customer. |
Always verify whether your address is in the affected area. |
Water source is groundwater wells |
RPU says water is pumped from 31 deep groundwater wells around the city. |
Source water details help users understand the local system. |
Treatment includes chlorine |
RPU adds chlorine for bacteria control. |
Boil advisories are still used when pressure or contamination risk requires extra precaution. |
Water quality is monitored |
RPU says it checks and monitors wells daily and tests samples under MDH requirements. |
Advisories are lifted after official testing and consultation, not guesswork. |
RPU water is hard |
RPU lists hardness around 17 grains per gallon / 280 ppm. |
Hardness can affect appliances, but it is not the same as a boil advisory. |
Map: RPU Service Center and Advisory Help
Use this map for the RPU Service Center. Advisory boundaries are event-specific, so use the current RPU notice or call with your address to confirm whether you are inside the affected zone.
Place / area |
Address or description |
Use for |
|---|---|---|
RPU Service Center |
4000 East River Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906 |
Customer Care, service questions, utility support, advisory confirmation during business hours. |
May 2026 example advisory corridor |
65th Street NW and U.S. Highway 52 corridor |
Example only. Use current RPU notice for current boundaries. |
Named example streets |
65th Street NW, Overland Drive NW, Bandel Road NW, Boulder Ridge Drive NW |
RPU named these in the May 2026 advisory release. |
Named example neighborhoods |
Boulder Ridge and Overland Pointe portions |
Example from the May 2026 release; not a standing advisory area. |
Sewer backup / overflow route |
City sanitary sewer emergency phone: 507-328-2640 |
Use for wastewater backup or overflow, not boil-water status questions. |
Rochester Public Utilities Boil Water Advisory FAQ
Is there a current Rochester Public Utilities boil water advisory?
Check the current RPU Water page, RPU News/Media Releases, and any direct RPU notice sent to your account or address. Do not rely on old advisory maps or social media screenshots.
Was the May 2026 RPU boil water advisory lifted?
Yes. RPU posted that the advisory for the NW high level pressure zone was lifted after water pressure returned and testing showed no contamination.
What number should I call for RPU boil water advisory questions?
Call Rochester Public Utilities Customer Care at 507-280-1500. RPU’s lifted notice says not to call 911 for advisory information.
What is the RPU water outage number during the day?
For water outages from 8 AM to 5 PM, call RPU Customer Care at 507-280-1500.
What is the RPU water outage number after hours?
For water outages from 5 PM to 8 AM, call 507-280-9191.
What number handles sewer backup or overflow in Rochester?
For sewer backup or overflow, use the City emergency sewer route at 507-328-2640.
How long should I boil water during a boil advisory?
Bring clear water to a full rolling boil for at least 1 minute, then let it cool before use.
Do I still need to boil filtered water?
Yes. During a boil water advisory, boil tap water even if it passed through a home filter, pitcher filter, or refrigerator filter.
Can I shower during a boil water advisory?
Bathing and showering are usually allowed, but avoid swallowing water. Use extra caution with babies and young children, and consider sponge bathing them.
Can I brush my teeth with tap water?
No. Use bottled water or boiled-and-cooled water for brushing teeth until the advisory is lifted.
Can I use my refrigerator water or ice dispenser?
No. During a drinking water advisory, do not use water or ice from appliances connected to the water line, including refrigerator dispensers.
Can I wash dishes during a boil water advisory?
Disposable dishes are safest. If washing by hand, wash and rinse normally, then sanitize in a separate basin with 1 teaspoon unscented bleach per gallon of warm water, soak at least 1 minute, and air dry.
What should I do for baby formula?
Use ready-to-feed formula if possible. If powdered formula is used and tap water is unsafe, use bottled water or boiled water cooled to the proper temperature, and follow CDC/local health guidance.
What should I do for pets?
Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people.
What should I do after RPU lifts the advisory?
Confirm the official lifted notice, run cold taps if rusty water appears, discard ice made during the advisory, flush refrigerator dispenser lines, and follow filter/appliance instructions.
30-Second RPU Boil Advisory Checklist
Check status: RPU Water page, RPU News, direct notice, or call 507-280-1500.
If affected: boil tap water for 1 minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, or formula.
Do not use: refrigerator water or ice during the advisory.
Usually okay: laundry, careful showering, handwashing with soap unless local notice says otherwise.
After lifted: flush cold taps if rusty, discard ice, flush appliance lines, and follow filter instructions.
Editorial Team
WaterBillGuide.us
The content on WaterBillGuide.us is researched and prepared by our editorial team. Our writers and researchers review publicly available information from official utility websites and service portals to create clear, step-by-step informational guides.
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