The short answer
For most healthy people, yes — showering and bathing with unboiled tap water is acceptable during a boil water advisory, as long as you are careful not to swallow any water and you keep it out of your eyes and mouth. Skin is a decent barrier to the bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illness, which is why health departments consistently allow showering under boil-notices. The risk comes from ingestion, not brief skin contact.
When you should NOT shower with tap water
- You have open wounds, recent surgery, burns or severe eczema — bacteria can enter through broken skin. Sponge-bathe using boiled and cooled water instead, and keep wounds covered and dry.
- You are immunocompromised, on chemotherapy, or living with a serious chronic illness — use boiled water for washing or ask your doctor.
- The notice is a do-not-use advisory (chemical or algal toxin event) — no skin contact at all until officials say otherwise.
- Aerosol exposure is a concern: people with weakened lungs or immune systems should avoid hot showers that create lots of steam during advisories tied to Naegleria or Legionella events, which are rare but serious.
Children and infants
Babies and toddlers swallow bath water almost inevitably, so give them a sponge bath with boiled, cooled water during the advisory. Older children can shower with supervision — remind them to keep their mouth shut, avoid the face, and wash hands afterward with soap and water or sanitizer.
Brushing teeth, gargling and contact lenses
Do not rinse your mouth or brush teeth with tap water — use boiled or bottled water. Contact-lens wearers should never rinse lenses or cases with tap water during an advisory (this rule is a good idea even without one, due to Acanthamoeba risk).
Dishes, laundry and pets
- Laundry: safe in tap water — the washer’s rinse water is not ingested.
- Hand-washing dishes: wash, then rinse in a solution of boiled water or run through a dishwasher with a sanitize setting. Air-dry completely.
- Dishwashers without a sanitize cycle: use the hottest setting and an air-dry (not towel) finish, or wash by hand as above.
- Pets: dogs and cats should drink boiled or bottled water. Grooming with tap water is low-risk, but discourage them from licking their fur right after a bath.
FAQ
Can I take a bath instead of a shower?
Healthy adults can, but avoid submerging your head and swallowing water. Children should sponge-bathe instead. Drain the tub carefully and rinse the tub afterward.
Is it safe to wash my face?
Use boiled and cooled water for face-washing during an advisory — it is easy for water to reach your lips and eyes at the sink. The same goes for shaving.