A water utility's first priority is to provide their customers with drinking water that is free of dis-ease - causing organisms. In situations in which pathogens are or may be present in tap water, the state or local public health agency may find it necessary to issue a boil-water advisory. The advisory typically recommends that customers boil all tap water intended for ingestion. A boil-water advisory has serious impli-cations for a community. Not only are customers inconvenienced, but restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and other businesses are seriously disrupted. A decision to issue an advisory must usually be made within a short period of time and with either incomplete or inconclusive information. Nevertheless, such a decision must be made only after careful consideration.
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