by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – The loss of positive pressure within a distribution water pipe may allow disease-causing microorganisms from surrounding soil or groundwater to be drawn into the pipe that feeds your home or business.
The City of Loveland recently issued a Boil Water Advisory for portions of Downtown after a water main break, however, did not simultaneously inform residents or businesses what it meant, what they needed to do, or why they should take important steps to protect their health or the health of customers and employees. Nor did the City tell anyone what risk they were taking if they used the possibly contaminated water coming from the tap.
“With little to no in-house water treatment, a lot of local restaurants are forced to close for the duration of the advisory. The ones that choose to remain open must bear a significant cost of substitution, for example, by using bottled water. As soon as a BWA is issued, every equipment utilizing water, from the soda machine to the ice machine, needs to be thoroughly cleaned out and all pre-made product from such machines needs to be thrown away.”*
“Distribution systems are usually under enough pressure so that any cracks let clean water out (at a cost to taxpayers), but prevent dirty water from getting in. When water mains break, however, system pressure drops—and those cracks allow contaminants like viruses to seep in. Water main breaks are thus a key vulnerability that promote waterborne disease.”**
Read Background:
Boil water advisory has been issued in Loveland
Below is what the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends when a boil water notice is issued to residents or food service facilities.
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Drinking water advisories let people know that tap water could be contaminated and make them sick. Advisories tell people, schools, hospitals, businesses, and others about the situation and how to take immediate action, if necessary. Water systems and state or local agencies issue these advisories when they have concerns about water contamination.
Boil Water Advisory for Residences
If your local health officials issue a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boil tap water. This is because a boil water advisory means your community’s water has, or could have, germs that can make you sick.
Advisories may include information about preparing food, drinks, or ice; dishwashing; and hygiene, such as brushing teeth and bathing. Boil water advisories usually include this advice:
- Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
- Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible.
Handwashing
- In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
- Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Bathing and showering
- Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
- Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing teeth
- Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
- Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if:
- The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or
- The dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
- Sanitize all baby bottles.
- To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
Laundry
- It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
- Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
- Bottled water,
- Boiled water, or
- Water that has been disinfected with bleach [PDF – 1 page].
Caring for pets
- Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
- You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.
Guidelines for Food Service Facilities During and After a Boil Water Advisory
During a Boil Water Advisory
When a boil water advisory is issued that affects a food service establishment and the local health department does not indicate that food service establishments must close, the following precautions should be taken by food service facilities until they are notified by authorities that the advisory has ended.
General
- Post signs or copies of the water system’s health advisory.
- Develop a plan to notify and educate employees about emergency procedures.
Food Preparation
- Shut off appliances that use tap water, such as ice machines, drinking fountains, produce misters, bottled water refill machines, soft drink fountains connected to the water supply, and water dipper wells.
- Discard ice and mixed beverages made with contaminated water.
- Use packaged ice from approved sources.
- Use bottled water, boiled water, or water that has been disinfected with bleach for drinking, food preparation, washing produce and cooking.
- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils. Hygiene and Cleaning
- Wash hands with soap and tap water. When you are done washing and drying your hands, use an alcohol based hand-sanitizer and let hands air dry.
- Commercial dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 165°F–180°F, as determined by your local or state authorities.
- If you are not able to use disposable plates, cups, and utensils and do not have a dishwasher, wash dishes by hand following these instructions:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach for each gallon of warm water.
The bleach label should say that it contains 5–9% of sodium hypochlorite. Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least 1minute. Let the dishes air dry completely before using again. - The local health department may add requirements to protect public health during the boil water advisory, such as modifying food preparation, prohibiting menu items or closing operations. Consult with [health department contact] for specific requirements.
After the Boil Water Advisory is lifted
When a food service establishment is notified that the boil water advisory has been lifted and the drinking water supply is safe, the following actions need to be taken.
- Flush pipes throughout the facility by running each faucet with cold water for [X] minutes.
- Flush, clean, and sanitize appliances that use tap water (such as beverage dispensers, spray misters, coffee and tea urns, ice machines, glass washers, dishwashers) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
- Flush hot water tanks.
- Run drinking fountains continuously for [X] minutes to flush the system.
- Replace and sanitize water filter cartridges according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Take proper steps to flush ice machines by following the manufacturer’s instructions, including:
• Throw out any remaining ice.
• Flush the waterline to the machine inlet.
• Close the valve on the waterline behind the machine.
• Disconnect the waterline from the machine inlet.
• Open the valve and run 5 gallons of water through the valve. Dispose of the water.
• Close the valve.
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* Impact of Water Main Breaks on Drinking Water for Food & Beverage Establishments
