Seven Things You Need to Know About Water Advisories and Notices

Water advisories and notices can be confusing. Here are seven things you need to know about water advisories and notices:

1. Boiling water — System pressure advisories and boil water notices may not apply to all water customers. Only the area under the advisory or notice is asked to temporarily boil water while the water is tested. Valves in the water distribution system allow the town to reduce the potential spread of contamination. 

2. Impact area — If you have received an advisory or notice but still have water and good water pressure, you are not impacted despite the notice. Branching in the pipes makes it difficult to know the exact impact area. Town staff attempt to notify all properties that may have been affected. 

3. Door hangers — For smaller events in the water system, Utilities Department staff place door hangers at properties they think may be affected.  

4. News releases — News releases are shared with the town for larger-scale events in which it is not feasible for staff to leave door hangers at each property. News releases also may be published if the event will significantly affect traffic. It is important to read the news release to learn if you are in the impacted area or if the repairs will affect your drive. All town news releases are shared on the town website at hillsboroughnc.gov/news as well as @HillsboroughGov social media and the Town of Hillsborough Nextdoor site. Subscribe to news releases  

5. OC Alerts — A notification is sent through the emergency notification system OC Alerts during larger-scale events. These alerts are only sent to the impacted area. Sign up to receive alerts for your home or business location, and choose how to receive the alerts — text, email, phone call or a combination. Your information is kept private. If you receive a notification from OC Alerts, visit the town website to read the news release. Subscribe to OC Alerts 

6. Signage — If you see a sign in your neighborhood informing you about a system pressure advisory or other utilities system event, visit the town website or town social media to learn more about the event. Town-maintained channels are the most reliable source of current information. 

7. Types of advisories and notices — The town has several types of notices, the most common of which is the system pressure advisory. At times during a repair, water system pressure could drop low enough to allow contaminants to enter the system. The system pressure advisory recommends customers boil water while the town tests for contaminants. A boil water notice instructs customers to boil water because contaminants have been found in the water. For the full list of advisories and notices, read Making Sense of Water System Advisories and Notices. 

To learn more about water advisories and notices, visit the frequently asked questions page. 

Related documents

Making Sense of Water Advisories and Notices  (infographic in English and Spanish)

Making Sense of Water Advisories and Notices  (full chart)