Prince George‘S County Health Department Division of Environmental Health Precautionary Water Advisory for Food Service Establishments

For immediate release:
9/3/2014 7:00:00 AM

​The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has issued a precautionary BOIL WATER ADVISORY for Hyattsville, Bladensburg, Mt. Rainier, Cheverly, Chillum, Edmonston, Landover Hills, Glen Arden, Fairmount Heights, Seat Pleasant and Brentwood. It is anticipated to last 2 days.

During the Advisory:

• Do not serve or consume water, or ice and drinks made with tap water that have not been properly disinfected. It is recommended that BOTTLED WATER BE SERVED and used when making drinks for patrons of food service establishments or to residences of nursing homes. It is recommended that ice be purchased from an approved source.
• Do not wash food that is to be served raw with water that has not been properly disinfected.
• Disinfect water for the possible presence of harmful bacteria or other harmful micro organisms by one of the following methods:
• Boiling tap water at a rolling boil for a minimum of 1 minute
• Distilling
• Filtering through a reverse osmosis filter, using an “absolute 1 micron” filter
• Sanitize food contact surfaces of equipment, dishes and utensils by:
• Immersing in hot water of 170 degrees F or higher temperature for at least 30 seconds
• Use of a chemical sanitizer
• Chlorine at a concentration of 50 parts per million with a minimum water temperature of 75 degrees F for a minimum of 7 seconds
• Iodine at a concentration of 12.5-25 parts per million with a minimum water temperature of 75 degrees F for a minimum of 7 seconds.
• Commercial dish washers that use hot water sanitation of at least 160 degrees F
• Empty all ice machines and ice storage bins and discard the ice. Turn off ice machine so that no new ice is produced.

What to do when the advisory is rescinded?

• Re-start and flush any water-using fixture

• Drain any refill water-holding reservoirs such as the hot water heater.

• Run each water faucet for 1 minute before using the water

• Run drinking water fountains for 1 minute before using the water

• Ice Makers

• Flush the water line to the machine inlet; disconnect the water line from the machine inlet; run 5 gallons of water thought the valve and dispose of the water

• Flush the water lines in the machine

• Make ice for 1 hour and dispose of the ice

• Clean and disinfect all parts and surfaces that come in contact with water and ice

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT THE FOOD PROTECTION PROGRAM 301-883-7690
(after hours).

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