Ending an Advisory

Issue End of Advisory Notice

Federal regulations do not specify when to end an advisory. Water systems and drinking water primacy agencies consult with one another and with public health officials on the specific events around the advisory and use water quality criteria and protocols to make the decision to end or lift an advisory. State primacy agency criteria are typically based on laboratory testing (sampling) results.

When the water system and primacy agency end the advisory, communication moves to lifting the advisory. Develop and coordinate the end of the advisory messages with public health officials and partners. The same communication methods, media partners, and outlets used to distribute the advisory should also be used to lift the advisory.

Be clear about the information used to end the advisory and the timing. Specifically, include the information on which you are basing your decision to end the advisory (e.g., the lab tested the water and it was negative for indicators). Develop and include any information needed by customers to flush water lines, etc.

Be sure to send the end of advisory notice to all partners in the communication network and the media. Post this information on websites clearly showing date and time. See the Ending an Advisory Press Release Template [PDF - 1 page] as an example.