How to shower, brush teeth, wash dishes amid boil water advisory

A boil water advisory was issued for a portion of the South Bay, including Imperial Beach, the Silver Strand and parts of San Diego, Chula Vista and San Ysidro after E.coli bacteria was found in a drinking water system for that area.

A boil water advisory is issued when contaminants in the water could make someone sick. Generally, residents should avoid ingesting potentially contaminated water but it is still safe for use if you take care not to ingest it, according to County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Director Dr. Eric McDonald.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more specific guidance for residents under the advisory. From bathing to brushing teeth, here are the answers to your questions about what to do amid a boil water advisory:

Here are the areas affected by the boil water advisory: