[Sparta, NC] –AppHealthCare is working with restaurants, childcare facilities and other healthcare facilities to provide guidance regarding the boil water advisory issued as a precautionary measure by the Town of Sparta on February 4, 2025.
Periods of low or no pressure in the water distribution system increases the potential for introduction of bacteria into the water system. Therefore, the Division of Water Resources (page 51) advises consumers to boil water used for human consumption for 1 minute (including drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation) or use bottled water until further notice.
“We are encouraging restaurants, childcare facilities, healthcare facilities, and other institutions to use specific guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the NC Environmental Health Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Guidance Manual for North Carolina which provides information on handwashing, food preparation, dish washing, consumption of water, overall bacterial control, and how to alert healthcare patients about this notice. Public health staff will continue to work with The Town of Sparta Public Works Department who will determine when it is appropriate to lift the boil water advisory. Once the boil water advisory is lifted, there is additional guidance for consumers to flush faucets, drinking fountains, ice machines, dishwashers, and drain reservoirs for water safety,” said Jennifer Greene, Health Director/CEO, AppHealthCare.
What is a Boil Water Advisory?
Whenever a water system has a significant pressure loss or a confirmed total coliform bacteria test result, as a precaution, customers are advised to boil water to ensure its safety until testing can confirm it’s safe to use. While there’s been no confirmation of contamination, this advisory is a recommended precaution.
What are total coliform bacteria?
Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other; potentially-harmful bacteria may be present. Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the treatment or distribution of a water system (pipes). Whenever coliform bacteria are detected in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present.
Boil Water Advisory for Households
- Use commercially bottled water or boil your tap water. To kill germs, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. allow boiled water to cool before you use it.
- Boil your tap water even if you filter it. For example, still boil tap water if it has been through a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water.
- Bathing or showering – be careful to not swallow any water while 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.
- Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
Boil Water Advisory Information for Restaurants, Care Centers and Other Institutions
Should I be using ice from my ice machine?
It is recommended to use ice from an alternate source such as ice purchased from a vendor that is not in the affected area of the boil water advisory.
If you are a food service facility and
- Do not have water, you must stop all food handling or food service operations and close until water has been restored. Please note that this means no food preparation can occur while water is unavailable. This pause in operations is critical to prevent a foodborne illness outbreak. As a note, a few establishments may have received DHHS pre-approval to enact emergency operation procedures and must carefully follow those.
- Have some water available, please follow the System Pressure Advisory guidance, page 51. A few important reminders include:
- Operations can only continue so long as there is enough water for employees to properly wash hands.
- Only bottled drinks should be served. Turn off all drink machines, tea urns or coffee machines. Tea & coffee must be made with boiled or bottled water.
- Turn off ice machines.
- Reduce menu offerings to items that require minimal preparation. So, simplify the menu to items that need to be washed, thawed, rinsed, etc.
- Dish machines should not be used unless they are high temperature sanitizing. Dishwashing in a 3 compartment sink should wait until the advisory has been rescinded. So, please go to single service utensils for customers if you do not have a high temperature sanitizing dishmachine (one that does NOT have chlorine connected to it).
- Are serving a critical operation (i.e. institution), please start enacting your back-up water supply plan and contact our Department as soon as possible for further assistance.
All other facilities should take careful precautions including those in the System Pressure Advisory guidance on page 51. Please continue to ensure that water & soap are available for handwashing especially after visits to the restroom.
Boil Water Advisory Information for Healthcare Facilities
The below are recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and can be found in full here.
When a significant water disruption or an emergency occurs, adhere to any advisory to boil water issued by the municipal water utility.
- Alert patients, families, staff, and visitors not to consume water from drinking fountains, ice, or drinks made from municipal tap water, while the advisory is in effect, unless the water has been disinfected (e.g., by bringing to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute).
- After the advisory is lifted, run faucets and drinking fountains at full flow for at least 5 minutes, or use high-temperature water flushing or chlorination.
For additional information, visit the CDC’s website or call AppHealthCare at (828) 795-1970.
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