Will I still have running water during the Florida power outages? Should I boil my water? What to know

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm, bringing destructive and devastating winds and storm surges to southwest Florida and leaving millions without power .

If you have a home without power, you might be wondering if you’ll have running water, and how safe it is to use.

More than 10 boil water notices were active in southwest Florida as of Thursday afternoon. Here's what to know about how much water usage you might have without power, a power outage map of Florida and where boil water notices are currently in effect.

Where are there power outages in Florida? Here's an outage map

According to data from USA Today, Florida currently has more than 3 million reported power outages as of Thursday, Oct. 10.

Will I have water during the power outage?

Whether or not you can run water during a power outage depends on your water source and how long the power has been out.

According to Harp Home Services, “If the power goes out, the city water should still work if you live in a single-family home. However, some apartment buildings and condos, even in a city, will not be able to use their water without power as most apartment buildings use water pumps.”

Can I flush my toilet during a power outage?

With most cities’ water systems, you can still flush your toilet and use your sink or shower for 6-12 hours after the power goes out.

But you should be sparing with any water usage. Once the water already in your pipes runs out, you’ll have to wait for power to return.

“This is a rough estimate that varies significantly based on your water source, local conditions, and usage patterns. If you know your water source is well (which uses a pump), the municipal water supply pump, or is otherwise reliant on electricity, only use water when necessary,” Harp Home Services ’ guide to water usage during power outages states.

Do I need to boil my water?

The Florida Department of Health has a web page where it posts a list of areas throughout the state that are under boil water notices.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were 12 active boil water notices for areas of southwest Florida due to Hurricane Milton's impact.

Here's the list of active boil water notices as of Thursday afternoon:

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Will I still have running water during the Florida power outages? Should I boil my water? What to know