Montgomery County has announced a boil water advisory for many of its residents.

Authorities have said that drinking or using tap water to prepare food without first boiling it can lead to intestinal illness. It is recommended that you bring tap water to a boil for at least a minute to kill any possible bacteria before allowing it to cool. If possible, you should use bottled water.

The following locations are advised to boil their water:

• Blacksburg

• Christiansburg

• Virginia Tech

• Montgomery County Public Service Authority Water Works

If you don’t have bottled water or are unable to boil your water, Montgomery County recommends the following:

• To disinfect water, safely use liquid household bleach. The bleaching product should be freshly purchased, free of additives and fragrances, and contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to every gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use.

• You can also use water purification tablets by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

We will let you know when this boil water notice is lifted.