At 2 a.m., the news was grim: Anyone who is a city of Toledo water customer should not drink the water, boil it, or shower.

The way that news was delivered differed among communities. Most people reported learning about the advisories from local media reports, alerts, and social-media insomniacs. At 3 a.m., The Blade sent a text-message alert to those who subscribe to the breaking-news service.

In Toledo, where the greatest number of people were affected, city officials posted a lengthy Facebook message at https://​www.facebook.com/​cityoftoledo advising residents to not consume any city-provided water and about the toxins found during testing at the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant.

No other citywide alerts were issued. City spokesman Lisa Renee Ward did not return a message seeking comment.

In Perrysburg, which was also affected, CodeRED alerts were sent as text messages at about 5:30 a.m. Calls were made to homes with landlines. Perrysburg Township also offers CodeRED alerts.

In Bedford Township, residents reported receiving phone calls advising them to steer clear of their tap water. Whitehouse sent text alerts to residents at 5:30 a.m.

The Lucas County Emergency Management Agency has a notification system that sends emails and text messages to subscribers. Its first alert was issued at 3:41 a.m. Those who wish to sign up for the alerts can do so at lucascountyalerts.com.

First Published August 3, 2014, 4:10 a.m.