If you are using either liquid concentrate or powdered formula to feed your baby, you need to mix it with safe, sterilized water.

How do I make sure my tap water is safe for making formula?

• Winnipeg municipal tap water from the cold tap is safe to use. Let the tap run until the water turns cold before filling a pot for sterilizing. This will flush out contaminants such as copper.
• If your home was built before 1989 it may have:
  • lead pipes (common in homes built before the mid-1950s)
  • lead solder connections
  • brass or chrome-plated brass taps
    • If the water has been standing in the pipes for more than 6 hours, “flush” the system by:
      • flushing the toilet
      • taking a shower
      • starting a load of laundry
      • Then let the tap run cold before using the water to make infant formula.
• If you have more questions about lead in your tap water, visit the City of Winnipeg’s website.
• You can use well water that meets safety standards. Test well water at least twice per year for nitrates, fluoride and coliform bacteria. Water should have less than 45 mg/L of nitrates and no more than 1.5 mg/L of fluoride. For more information on testing well water, see the Manitoba Government’s fact sheet, How to Test Well Water for Bacteria or call Health Links- Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or toll free 1-888-315-9257.
• Bottled water (NOT carbonated and mineral waters) is safe to use, but still needs to be sterilized.

Water that may not be safe

• If your water is from a municipal well, it may not be safe to use.
• If there is a boil water advisory in your community or you are getting brown water out of your tap, do not use.
• Do not use tap water if you use a water softener.

If you do not have a safe water source use…

• ready-to-feed formula OR
• bottled water to prepare your powdered or concentrated infant formula. Bottled water still needs to be sterilized before use.

How to sterilize water

Fill a clean pot with water, cover and bring to a rolling boil for two minutes.

• Sterilized water can be stored in a covered sterilized container at room temperature for 24 hours or in the fridge for 2-3 days.
• How you use sterilized water depends on whether you use liquid concentrate formula or powdered formula.  Please refer to the page on the formula type for more information.

Parent tip: All feeding equipment needs to be sterilized. Check out this link for all your sterilizing needs.

Reference:

City of Winnipeg- Lead and Winnipeg’s Water
Manitoba Government: Be Lead Aware- Formula Feeding Factsheet