STERITECH PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION BRIEF WV Water Service Chemical Contamination

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1 Cntaminatin UPDATED JANUARY 10, 2014 Summary On Friday, January 10, 2014, the White Huse issued a federal disaster declaratin in West Virginia as the result f a chemical spill n January 9 that cntaminated the water supply. West Virginia gvernr Earl Ray Tmblin had issued a state f emergency n Thursday evening fr nine cunties serviced by West Virginia American Water in Kanawha, Cabell, Bne, Putnam, Lincln, Lgan, Clay, Rane, and Jacksn cunties. It is believed that mre than 300,000 peple are impacted. Water cntaminated by this chemical can cause burning f the skin, eyes, and muth/thrat. It is critical that water nt be used fr drinking, fd preparatin, washing dishes r utensils, bathing, brushing teeth, washing clthes, r feeding/watering animals r any ther actin that culd lead t injury. This dcument utlines steps t be taken in the event f a cntaminated water supply. Hwever, it is a general guideline and DOES NOT supersede directives issued by West Virginia authrities. Any instructin given by lcal authrities shuld be fllwed at all times. Updates are happening frequently, and this dcument may nt cntain the mst recent directives. Intrductin The fllwing guidelines are intended t assist with the develpment f temprary alternative prcedures t address varius fd peratins that are affected by this chemical spill. It is imprtant that the manager r persn-in-charge ensures that if these temprary prcedures are needed, they are strictly fllwed and all peratins perate in cmpliance with fd safety requirements and in accrdance with the lcal regulatry authrity. Respnse t Cntaminated Water Supply If they have nt been taken already, the fllwing actins are recmmended: As f nn n January 10, 2014, there is n determinatin f hw lng it will take t make the water supply safe. Restaurants have been rdered by the gvernment t clse. Sme peratins, such as htels, hspitals, nursing hmes, and ther institutinal facilities may be perating under emergency plans. It is imprtant that an apprpriate party (management, QA, risk management, etc.) be in cntact with regulatry authrities t make a decisin regarding when the establishment shuld be able t stay pen r repen , The Steritech Grup, Inc. Fr mre infrmatin n Steritech s brand prtectin services, call r visit 1

2 Cntaminatin Shut ff water at water main, if pssible. Turn ff water lines t ice machines, sda and water twers as well as any cffee/tea machines, sprays/misters, etc. Discard any prducts that may have been prepared with cntaminated water. In areas where the public has access t restrms, pst signs t indicate that water shuld nt be used ther than fr flushing tilets. If pssible, disable water at sinks. Await further instructins fr cleaning and sanitizing fdservice peratins as the cntaminated water cannt be used t perfrm cleaning and sanitizing peratins. Be ready t implement a pre-established plan t perate using single service utensils, bttled water, cmmercially manufactured ice, etc. This may assist in getting health department apprval t perate. If required t clse, pst a ntice sign n frnt dr f establishment indicating a temprary clsure due t water supply cntaminatin. The fllwing table cntains actin steps and alternative prcedures fr varius fd service peratins that may be affected by a water supply interruptin IF health department allws any fdservice peratins. Otherwise cease peratins as directed by health department. If these prcedures cannt be fllwed t prvide safe water and fd safety practices, every cnsideratin shuld be made t cease peratins until safe, ptable water supply becmes available. Hand Washing Hand wash sinks In restrms Use heated bttled water, r water brught in frm a safe public water supply. AND D nt permit bare hand cntact with readyt-eat fds. AND Supply heated bttled water in restrms fr hand washing. Disable water supplies at sinks. Pst warning signs that water is nt safe t use fr drinking, bathing r washing , The Steritech Grup, Inc. Fr mre infrmatin n Steritech s brand prtectin services, call r visit 2

3 Cntaminatin Drinking Water D nt use biled water; it des nt remve chemical cntaminants. ONLY use cmmercially bttled water. Bring in water frm a safe public water supply in cvered, sanitized cntainers. Beverages Made with Water Ice Making IF PERMITTED TO OPERATE Serve Only Pre-Packaged, Pre-Made Fds Preparing Fds that Require Water Hire a licensed drinking water tanker truck. Stp using pst-mix beverage machines, aut-fill cffee makers, instant ht water machines (BUNN), recnstituted juice r tea machines. Use bttled water, and use canned/ bttled sft drinks r retail cntainers f sft drinks. Discard any existing ice. Discntinue making ice. Use cmmercially manufactured ice fr cling f fd r in drinks. When safe water supply is restred, clean, sanitize and rinse any ice bins and machines accrding t manufacturers recmmendatins r regulatry authrity directives. Use menu limited nly t fds that have been pre-packaged and manufactured in a cmmercial fd prcessing facility. Use single service utensils and paper prducts, bttled water, and canned sdas. DISCONTINUE peratins , The Steritech Grup, Inc. Fr mre infrmatin n Steritech s brand prtectin services, call r visit 3

4 Cntaminatin Thawing Cking Only items that can be cked using vens, micrwaves, r cnvectin heat can be thawed. Thaw under refrigeratin, nt under running water. Cking can nly be dne under the fllwing cnditins during this emergency: Utilize bttled water. Bring in water frm a safe public water supply in cvered, sanitized cntainers. Washing/Saking/Preparing Prduce Hire a licensed drinking water tanker truck. Use pre-washed, packaged prduce. Use frzen/canned fruits and vegetables. Wash fresh prduce with cmmercially bttled water r water frm a safe public water supply system. If a prduct must be heated in water, it must be dne with cmmercially bttled water r water frm a safe public water supply system , The Steritech Grup, Inc. Fr mre infrmatin n Steritech s brand prtectin services, call r visit 4

5 Cntaminatin Cleaning and Sanitizing Equipment, Utensils, and Tableware Discntinue use f dishmachine. Use single service/dispsable utensils and tableware whenever pssible. OR Spray Misting Units Use the 3-cmpartment sink using bttle water fr sanitizer buckets/spray bttles. Make certain that the sanitizatin step is being prperly cnducted sanitizer cncentratin and temperature. SPECIFIC TO GROCERY STORES If spray misters are used t spray prduce, seafd r meat cases, DISCONTINUE USE. Repening Safely: Recvery Fllwing an Operatin Clsure After a mandatry peratin clsure by the regulatry authrity, the fllwing recmmended re-pening checklist shuld be fllwed nce the authrizatin and ntificatin that the water supply is safe t use ccurs. Fllw any directins given by water utility n using water lines after the ban is lifted. The flush times r prcedures may be different frm thse in the table belw. RECOMMENDED REOPENING CHECKLIST FOLLOWING A CLOSURE FOR WATER SERVICE CONTAMINATION Fllw any directins given by the water utility r flush all pipes and faucets fr a minimum f 5 minutes. Flush, clean and sanitize any waterline cnnectins fr ice machines, pst-mix beverage machines, spray misters, cffee r tea makers, dishwashers, and any ther equipment that has water cnnectins. Run water sfteners thrugh a cmplete regeneratin cycle. Change all water filters n equipment nce the lines have been flushed. Drain any reservirs in tall buildings , The Steritech Grup, Inc. Fr mre infrmatin n Steritech s brand prtectin services, call r visit 5

6 Cntaminatin RECOMMENDED REOPENING CHECKLIST FOLLOWING A CLOSURE FOR WATER SERVICE CONTAMINATION Flush beverage machine lines fr a minimum f 5 minutes. Drinking funtains shuld be flushed fr at least 5 minutes cntinuusly. Specific ice machine sanitatin: Flush the water lines t the machine inlet. Clse valve n water line and discnnect the water line frm the inlet. Open the valve, and run 5 gallns f ptable water thrugh the valve. Dispse f the water; d nt reuse. Clse valve. Recnnect water line t inlet. Open the valve. Flush the water lines in the machine. Turn n ice machine and allw it t make ice fr 1 hur. Dispse f the first batch f ice. Clean and sanitize all parts and surfaces that cme in cntact with water and ice fllwing manufacturer s instructins. References CNN; Watkins, Tm. In Parts f West Virginia, Water Is Only fr Flushing. (Updated January 10, 2014.) Retrieved frm n January 10, Emergency Preparedness Cmmittee f Cuncil II, Cnference fr Fd Prtectin. Emergency Actin Plan fr Retail Fd Establishments. Retrieved frm n January 10, WKYT. State f Emergency Declared in 9 West Virginia Cunties Fllwing Spill. (January 9, 2014; Updated January 10, 2014). Retrieved frm n January 10, , The Steritech Grup, Inc. Fr mre infrmatin n Steritech s brand prtectin services, call r visit 6