Water Supply Interruptions or Outages

Disruptions to Gibraltar's water supply — whether due to infrastructure failure, contamination or extreme demand — can affect health, hygiene and daily life.

Who is Most at Risk?

All residents are affected by water supply interruptions, but elderly people, young children, those with medical conditions requiring regular water intake, and businesses that depend on water for operations are most vulnerable during prolonged outages.

Before

  • Keep a supply of bottled water at home — at least three litres per person per day as a minimum for drinking and cooking.
  • Know how to turn off your water at the mains stopcock and where it is located.
  • Store water in clean, sealed containers in case of an emergency.
  • Keep AquaGib’ contact number saved in your phone.
  • If you have a medical condition that requires strict water intake or hygiene, speak to your GP about a personal contingency plan.
  • Do not waste water — Gibraltar’s water supply is a managed resource and conservation helps reduce risk of disruption.

During

  • Follow any official guidance from AquaGib and HM Government of Gibraltar regarding the outage.
  • Use stored bottled water for drinking and cooking. If none is available, follow any official advice on boiling or treating tap water.
  • Reduce water use as much as possible — avoid running taps unnecessarily, skip non-essential washing.
  • If a boil water notice is issued: boil all tap water for at least one minute before drinking, cooking or brushing teeth. Let it cool before use.
  • Do not flush sewage systems unnecessarily — during outages, wastewater systems can also be under pressure.
  • Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours who may need assistance obtaining water.
  • Report any suspected pipe bursts or water discolouration to AquaGib promptly.

After

  • When supply is restored, run your taps for a few minutes before use to flush the pipes.
  • Discard any ice made during the outage period.
  • If a boil water notice was in place, continue boiling until authorities formally lift the notice.
  • Clean and disinfect any containers used to store water during the outage.
  • Check and replace any water filters if your supply was disrupted or contaminated.