Boil Water Advisory Events

Information for: Licensed Facilities During Boil Water Advisories

A boil water advisory means that it is not safe to drink the water, or use it for other domestic activities like hand-washing, teeth brushing, etc. without boiling it first. People with underlying health concerns, the very young, and the very old are most vulnerable. Anyone with health concerns/questions, should be directed to contact their primary medical provider (doctor).

 

Please follow the following protocols during boil water events:

 

• All food establishments should close immediately because they do not have the capacity to boil adequate volumes of water for all aspects of food sanitation.
• Tourist facilities must immediately help their guests find safe water to consume and for sanitation. Consider supplying bottled water to your guests. Surrounding public water systems may be able to provide safe to consume. If you do not have guests presently, consider closing.
• Swimming pools and spas: You should also close. The chlorine in your pools/spas is only designed to sanitize potable water. Chlorine resistant protozoa may be in the water following the line-break and zero pressure event.

Failure to comply may result in wide-spread illnesses.  If you, or any of your customers, are concerned that they are sick from a boil water event, please direct people to contact their primary medical provider; emergency room visits are only for serious illnesses and injuries only.

 

 

Special Considerations for Food Facilities:

Any equipment like ice-machines should be cleaned sanitized, etc. (ice discarded). All piped systems, faucets, equipment (like espresso machines), etc. should be cleaned and sanitized (in accordance with manufactures directions) and fully flushed with clean water.

For food establishments caught off-guard by a surprise boil water advisory, do not serve food, or use equipment that may have contacted by unsafe water.  Anything that contacted unsafe water should be either cleaned and sanitized or discarded. For example, dishes may need to cleaned and sanitized again. Fresh produce, and other prepared foods, may need to be discarded. Foods prepared with boiled water are safe. When in doubt, throw it out.

Following a boil water advisory event, we expect that it will take some time for facilities to perform these special cleaning and preparation tasks. Do not open your doors to the public and immediately and begin serving a full menu. Once handwashing is available, and surfaces are clean and sanitized, feel free to begin serving simple items, like poured beverages, or foods that are made with ingredients that have not contacted unsafe water. 

 

Special Considerations for Tourist Facilities:

For tourist facilities, advise your guests that the water system is safe only after the boil water advisory is formally lifted, and you flush your plumbing systems. Don’t forget about ice-machines, etc.

 

Special Considerations for Pool & Spa Facilities:

For swimming pools and spas, remember that your pool/spa may have taken in contaminated water. Surface water organisms like Gardia and Cryptosporidium can survive exposure to chlorine for significant periods of time. Super/shock chlorinating, allowing a full filter cycle, and waiting for chlorine levels to dissipate, is advised prior to opening to the public.