Guam Water Authority’s precautionary boil water notice is causing confusion among island restaurants. 

Though establishments are not mandated to boil water from GWA, the Department of Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health is enforcing the advisory.

Public information officer Don Sulat said they cannot authorize the use of water from GWA if it’s not boiled until the notice is lifted.

GWA issued a precautionary boil water notice out of an abundance of caution as they are still not at normal pressures. 

On their official podcast channel, they make a distinction from a mandatory boil water notice.

"A Mandatory Boil Water Notice is issued if laboratory analysis confirms that contaminants are present in the water through a positive for Escherichia coli or commonly known as e. Coli," GWA Senior Regulatory Analyst Vangie Lujan said in the podcast. "Currently, none of the sampling and analysis indicate positive results for these bacteria in GWA’s water." 

GWA said their water is tested daily and is safe to drink.

"Water from GWA’s system is safe to drink and to use. It is tested daily during this Typhoon recovery period," Lujan said. "GWA water that comes to your tap at home, or from the GWA water tankers stationed at the different villages is safe to drink and use."

Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to continue boiling their water until further notice from GWA or Guam EPA. 

"This precautionary notice will remain in effect until the system is restored to normal pressure, testing confirms the water remains safe and Guam EPA concurs that the notice can be lifted," Lujan said. 

The confusion comes after Guam EPA's “do not drink order” which they since clarified does not apply to GWA water.

KUAM also reached out to GWA and Public Health to get a clear answer to this confusion.