In June 2025, thousands of St. Louis County residents drank contaminated tap water and didn’t even know it. A boil notice for St. Louis was issued as quickly as possible, advising residents to boil tap water before drinking it. But the alert came after the issue had already occurred. For many families, the warning came too late.
The St. Louis County boil water advisory is a harsh reminder. By the time a water boil advisory is issued, the damage may already be done.
What Is a Drinking Water Advisory?
A drinking water advisory is an official alert that your tap water may not be safe to use. These warnings help protect you from harmful contaminants that can get into the water supply during emergencies or system issues. Depending on the situation, advisories can require you to boil water, avoid drinking it altogether, or even stop using it for all household needs until the problem is fixed.
These alerts often follow events like:
- Water main breaks
- Natural disasters
- Power outages at treatment plants
- Low-pressure incidents that allow contaminants to seep in
Boil Water Advisory/Notice/Alert in Effect
Whether it’s called a boil water advisory, boil notice, or boil alert, it means the same thing. It’s a warning from your water provider that your tap water may be contaminated and that boiling it is required before consuming it. This contamination can include bacteria, viruses, or parasites that could make you sick if the water isn’t boiled before use.
Do Not Drink Water Advisory in Effect
Sometimes, the water isn’t safe to drink even if boiled. During these times, use bottled water or filtered water from a trusted, certified system for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and washing produce. Keep an eye out for updates from your local water authority to know when it’s safe again.
Do Not Use Water Advisory in Effect
At times, water can be unsafe for all household uses, and boiling won’t fix it. During these advisories, avoid using tap water for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing. Rely on bottled water or water filtered by a certified system, and follow updates from your local water officials until the issue is resolved.
Why an Advisory is Too Late By the Time You Hear About It
While a boil advisory is meant to protect public health, there’s a lag time between when a public water system is contaminated, when those contaminants are detected, and the public notice to take action.
Let’s break it down:
- Contamination occurs (like a pressure drop or system failure).
- Water continues to flow to homes.
- Testing detects the issue, hours or even a day later.
- The advisory is issued to the public.
That leaves a dangerous window where families are unknowingly using unsafe water for drinking, cooking, or brushing their teeth.
You Can’t Predict the Next Alert, But You Can Prepare
Boil notices happen all over the country, often without warning. In fact, while this blog post was being finalized, another major boil water advisory hit. This time thousands of residents in New Orleans were placed under a boil water advisory after a main line broke. It’s just one more reminder that your water quality can change in an instant.
Unless you’re constantly checking city alerts or advisory maps, you might not find out until it’s too late. That’s why more families are turning to home water filtration systems, not just to improve taste, but to protect against the unknown. Think of it as liquid insurance for your home’s water. It doesn’t wait for an alert. It works around the clock to keep your family safer.
Why Home Water Filtration Matters
Not all filters are built to handle the kind of threats that trigger a boil water advisory. And when your family’s health is on the line, the right filtration system makes all the difference.
Here’s what you need to know:
- A 5 micron water filter might catch sediment like dirt and rust, but that’s just the surface.
- To help reduce bacteria, parasites, and other microscopic contaminants, you’ll want a filter rated 1 micron or smaller.
- Add carbon block filtration, and you’re also tackling chlorine, bad tastes, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- For next-level protection, reverse osmosis can help reduce even more like PFAS, fluoride, nitrates, and certain microbes.
- And for added peace of mind, a whole house UV filter can help neutralize bacteria and viruses that make it past other filters.
If you're looking for the best whole house water filter system, Aquasure offers powerful, year-round protection, keeping your water clean during everyday use and unexpected emergencies.
Aquasure Protection You Can Count On
Aquasure’s Fortitude Pro whole house filter and Premier Series Reverse Osmosis (RO) system both offer families real protection, before, during, and after a boil notice.
Here’s a Side-by-Side Comparison:
|
Contaminant |
Fortitude Pro Series |
Premier Series RO |
Quantum Series UV |
|
Sediment (rust, sand) |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ (not designed to remove sediment) |
|
Chlorine / Chloramine |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ (UV does not remove chemicals) |
|
VOCs |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Lead |
⚠️ Limited |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Fluoride |
❌ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
PFAS (forever chemicals) |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Nitrates / Nitrites |
❌ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Microplastics |
⚠️ Limited |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Bacteria / Parasites |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ (inactivates pathogens with UV-C technology) |
Fortitude Pro Filtration Systems for Whole House Defense
The Fortitude Pro filtration system is your first line of defense, filtering contaminants throughout the entire home, from laundry to the shower.
Premier Series RO System for Drinking Water Protection
Premier Series RO takes things further, providing purified water right at the kitchen tap. Its ultrafiltration is perfect for cooking, drinking, mixing baby formula, and providing added peace of mind.
Quantum Series UV for Whole House Pathogen Defense
The Quantum Series UV system uses advanced UV-C technology to neutralize harmful bacteria and viruses in tap water for your entire home. It’s perfect for families wanting added peace of mind against invisible contaminants, without changing the taste or pressure of your water.
Aquasure Signature Series Bundle for Complete Peace of Mind
Instead of choosing which system to invest in, bundling with the Signature Series allows you to provide better quality water throughout your entire home and enjoy pristine drinking water from your kitchen tap.
Final Takeaway: Be Ready Before the Next Alert
The truth is, you may not know your water is unsafe until it's too late. And even when a boil water advisory near you is announced, how many times do you drink, rinse, or swallow water before you find out?
That’s the gap filtration fills. With Aquasure systems in place, you’re not waiting for the next emergency to act; you’re already protected. Don’t wait for a water quality disaster to take action. Provide your home water with a liquid insurance policy via the right water filter system.
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