What Happens to Your Water During a Mississauga Water Main Break
Water main breaks happen more often in Mississauga than most people expect. When one does, the City of Mississauga typically issues a boil water advisory for affected streets. That means the water coming out of your tap is not safe to drink, cook with, or use for making baby formula until the advisory is lifted.
Here is a straightforward look at what happens, how long it usually lasts, and what you can do to make sure your family has clean water when it matters.
What a boil water advisory actually means
When a water main breaks, there is a risk that bacteria or other contaminants can enter the water supply at the break point. The City issues a boil water advisory out of caution, which means you should boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking it, cooking with it, making coffee or tea, brushing your teeth, or making ice cubes.
Boiling kills bacteria and most viruses, but it does not remove chemicals, heavy metals, or chlorine. If you have a water distiller at home, this is exactly the situation it was designed for. Distilled water is boiled into steam and collected separately, which removes virtually everything from the water.
How long do Mississauga boil water advisories last
Most advisories last between 24 and 72 hours. After the break is repaired, crews flush and test the lines. The advisory stays in place until water samples pass. In some cases, particularly in older parts of the city, repairs and testing can take longer.
The City of Mississauga posts current advisories at mississauga.ca. You can also sign up for city alerts that will notify you by text or email when an advisory is issued or lifted for your area.
How much stored water your household actually needs
The Government of Canada recommends four litres per person, per day for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. For a family of four, that is 16 litres per day. A 72-hour supply for a family of four is 48 litres.
Three of our 18-litre bottles gives you 54 litres, which covers a family of four for just over three full days. That is a practical starting point for anyone who wants to be ready without taking up a lot of space.
The cleanest way to store water at home
Not all stored water is equal. Tap water stored in plastic containers can absorb trace plasticizers over time, especially in a warm location like a garage in summer. If you are storing water for emergencies, the container matters.
Our 3 gallon Italian glass bottles are a practical choice for home storage. Glass does not leach anything into the water, does not absorb odours, and keeps distilled water tasting clean for as long as you need it. Each bottle holds 11.3 litres. The bottle costs $49 one time and you own it. Refills are $15.95 per bottle for distilled or spring water, delivered to your door or available for pickup at 950 Verbena Road in Mississauga. Glass bottles are in stock right now.
Keep an eye on City of Mississauga alerts
Signing up for City of Mississauga water alerts is free and takes two minutes at mississauga.ca. It means you will know within minutes if an advisory affects your street. If you want to be ready before the next one, call us at 905-670-7400 or order online.
Related: How much water should your family have ready? What the Government recommends
