Communication Resources for Safe Water Use and Hygiene During Emergencies

At a glance

Download, use, and share the materials below about using water safely and avoiding germs during emergencies. Many of the resources are available in multiple languages.

Order free copies

To order free printed copies of select fact sheets in English or Spanish, visit CDC Publications On Demand. Choose "Environmental Health—Natural Disasters and Severe Weather" on the dropdown menu next to "Program."

Fact sheets

Fact Sheet: Preventing Diarrheal Illness After A Disaster
Available in English, Spanish, Chamorro, Chinese, Chuukese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
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Download

Fact Sheet: Make Water Safe During an Emergency
Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
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Download
Fact Sheet: Use Safe Water During an Emergency
Available in English and Spanish.
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Download
Fact Sheet: Cleaning and Disinfecting Water Cisterns After Floods and Heavy Rains
Available in English and Spanish.
Download
Download

Kill Germs With Bleach (Factsheet)
Kill Germs With Bleach Factsheet
Use bleach to kill germs on things touched by flood water.
Download
Download
Fact Sheet: Cleaning and Disinfecting Water Cisterns After Floods and Heavy Rains
Available in English and Spanish.
Download
Download

Fact Sheet: Wash Your Hands
Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hawaiian, Ilocano, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
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Download

Fact Sheet: Safe and Healthy Diapering During Emergencies
Available in English and Spanish.
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Download
Planning Checklist for Diapering Stations in Shelters
Available in English and Spanish.
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Download

Handouts to Download or Print
Material for emergency responders and families to help feed infants and young children.

Communication Resources
Find health and safety print materials for natural disasters and severe weather.

Web and social media graphics

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Illustration of a pot of water boiling for one minute and a bottle of bleach with 8 drops being added to 1 a gallon jug of water. Text on the graphic says, “Make water safe during an emergency. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth. If you don’t have bottled water, boil you water for 1 minute. If you can’t boil, add 8 drops UNSCENTED household bleach to 1 gallon of water. Mix well. Wait at least 30 minutes before using. If you are using a portable water filter, choose on labeled to remove parasites.”
Download and share this graphic. Use the links below to download it in different languages and sizes.

English 1200x675 | English 1080x1080
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Close-up view of a pot of boiling water. Text overlay says, "Under a boil water advisory? Boil tap water for 1 minute to kill germs and make it safe to drink."
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Spanish 1200x675 | Spanish 1080x1080

Graphic series

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Illustrated glass of water illustration and next arrow. Text on the graphic says, “Make water safe during an emergency. After a disaster or emergency, tap water may not be safe to use. Always listen to your local authorities for specific advice. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth if possible. If bottled water is not available, choose one of the following methods to make your water safe.”
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Illustrated pot of water boiling over a gas burner and a next arrow. Text on the graphic says, “Boil your water. This is the best method for killing germs. Boil you water for 1 minute. At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Let the water cool.”
Download and share this graphic (2 of 4 in the series). Use the links below to download it in different sizes.

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Illustrated container filled with one gallon of water with eight drops of bleach being added, with the caption, “Add bleach to water.” The container of water being mixed with a spoon, with the caption, “Mix well.” The container of water with a cap, with the caption, “Wait at least 30 minutes before using.” Text on the graphic says, “Disinfect. If you can’t boil water, add 8 drops of unscented household bleach to 1 gallon of clear water. Add 16 drops of unscented bleach if water is cloudy. Mix well. Wait at least 30 minutes before using. If you don’t have household bleach, use chlorine dioxide tablets or iodine, according to label instructions.”
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Illustrated water filter. Water with germs in it is in a glass. The germy water moves through a tube into the filter and exits the filter without any germs. The clean water exits the filter through a tube and goes into a clean glass of water. Text on the graphic says, “Filter. If using a filter, choose one that is designed to remove parasites. Follow the label directions. Filtered water might need additional treatment to be safe.”
Download and share this graphic (4 of 4 in the series). Use the links below to download it in different sizes.

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Graphic text says, "Store water safely. After a natural disaster, water may not be safe to drink. Liston to local officials to find out if your water is safe. Sanitize containers before storing water: 1) Add 1 teaspoon UNSCENTED household bleach to 1 quart (32 oz. 4 cups, or about 1 liter) of water. 2) Pour solution into clean storage container. Shake well; should cover entire inside of container. 3) Let sit for at least 30 seconds. Pour out. 4) Air dry or rinse with clean water if available. 5) Pour clean water into the sanitized container and cover with a tight lid. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners. Open windows and doors to get fresh air when you use bleach.”
Download and share this graphic. Use the links below to download it in different languages and sizes.

English 1200x675 | English 1080x1080
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Well head and spigot in a yard. Text on the graphic says, “Did your private well flood? Contact your health department for advice on disinfecting and testing your water.”
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Illustrations of a kitchen sink and counter and canned goods. Text on the graphic says, “Recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing food cans and surfaces after a flood. Food surfaces that may have touched flood water. Examples: Countertops, plates. Note: Throw away wooden cutting boards, baby bottle nipples, and pacifiers. Steps 1) Wash with soap and hot, clean water. 2) Rinse with clean water. 3) Sanitize in a solution of 1 tablespoon of standard bleach in 1 gallon of clean water. Use unscented household bleach with a sodium hypochlorite concentration between 5% and 9% (this is the most common concentration in the United States). 4) Allow to air dry. Food cans that are not bulging, open, or damaged. Steps 1) Remove can labels. Wash cans with soap and warm, clean water. Dip cans in mixture of 1 cup of standard bleach* per 5 gallons of water. 4) Allow to air dry. 5) Re-label cans with a permanent marker.”
Download and share this graphic about cleaning and sanitizing food cans and surfaces after a flood.
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Illustration of a fabric chair and toys on a rug. Text on the graphic says, “Recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing household surfaces and items after a flood. Non-food contact surfaces that do not soak up water and that may have touched floodwater. Examples: Floors, sinks, certain toys, and tools. Steps 1) Clean surface with soap and warm, clean water. 2) Rinse with clean water. 3) Sanitize using a mixture of 1 cup (240 mL) of standard bleach to 5 gallons of water. Use unscented household bleach with a sodium hypochlorite concentration between 5% and 9% (this is the most common concentration in the United States). 4) Allow to air dry.”
Download and share this graphic about cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and items after a flood.
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Illustration of a kitchen. Text on the graphic says, “Recommendations to clean mold growth off hard surfaces after a flood. Mold growth on hard surfaces. Examples: Floors, stoves, sinks, certain toys, countertops, flatware, plates, and tools. Steps 1) Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of standard bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use unscented household bleach with a sodium hypochlorite concentration between 5% and 9% (this is the most common concentration in the United States). 2) Wash surfaces with the standard bleach mixture. 3) If surfaces are rough, scrub them with a stiff brush. 4) Rinse surfaces with clean water. 5) Allow to air dry.”
Download and share this graphic about cleaning mold off hard surfaces after a flood.

Videos

Low resolution version

Boil Water Advisory
Know what to do when you're under a boil water advisory
Follow Recs About Boiling Water
Know when to boil water after an emergency

Print
Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)