Preventing Crypto in Commercial Settings During a Boil Water Advisory

Prevention tips

General procedures

To help prevent Crypto infections during a boil water advisory:

• Discontinue service of equipment with water line connections (for example, post-mix beverage machines, spray misters, auto-fill coffee/tea makers, instant hot water heaters, ice machines).
• Discard ice made prior to the boil water advisory issuance and discontinue making ice. Use commercially-manufactured ice.

Do not serve or consume:

• Water that has not been disinfected
• Ice or drinks made with water that has not been disinfected
• Raw foods rinsed with water that has not been disinfected

Drinking water

For drinking water, use:

• Commercially bottled water
• Water that has been disinfected for Cryptosporidium by:
  • Boiling at a rolling boil for 1 minute (boil for 3 minutes at altitudes greater than 6,562 feet, or greater than 2,000 meters)
  • Distilling
• Water hauled from an approved public water supply in a covered sanitized container
• Water from a licensed drinking water hauler truck

Cooking and food prep

• Discard any ready-to-eat food prepared with water prior to the discovery of the water contamination.
• Prepare/cook ready-to-eat food using the drinking water alternatives listed above or restrict the menu to items that do not require water.

For equipment/utensils/tableware in cooking and food preparation:

• Use single service/use articles or clean and sanitize equipment, utensils, and tableware using the drinking water alternatives listed above. Follow the established procedures to wash, rinse, and sanitize.
• Cryptosporidium on equipment, utensils, and tableware may be disinfected using dishwashing machines that have a dry cycle or a final rinse that exceeds 113°F for 20 minutes or 122°F for 5 minutes or 162°F for 1 minute.
• Discontinue operations when inventories of clean equipment, utensils, and tableware are exhausted.

Handwashing

To wash hands:

• Wet your hands with the drinking water alternatives listed above and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Rinse your hands well under running water. If running water is not available, water may be poured on your hands by another person.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

When the boil water advisory is over

• Make sure equipment with water line connections (e.g., filters, post-mix beverage machines, spray misters, auto-fill coffee/tea makers, instant hot water heaters, ice machines, glass washers, dishwashers, etc.) is flushed, cleaned, and sanitized according to manufacturers' instructions.
• Change all point-of-entry and point-of-use water filters, including those associated with equipment that uses water.
• For managers of large buildings with water-holding reservoirs, consult facility engineer and health department about draining the reservoirs.
• Flush pipes and faucets. Run cold water faucets continuously for at least 5 minutes.
• Flush drinking fountains. Run water continuously for at least 5 minutes.
• Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
• Drain and refill hot water heaters set below 113°F.

Resources

Drinking Water Advisory Communications Toolbox