Boil Water Advisory for Licensed Establishments

There are several reasons why a boil water advisory might be issued: 

• Tests show harmful microorganisms could be in the water
• Water pressure drops due to equipment failure or power outages
• Water main breaks or repairs
• Flooded water source
• Any other situations that warrant special action to protect the public's health

When a boil water advisory affects a licensed establishment, Arlington County Public Health Division (ACPHD) will give guidance on whether to close or modify operations.

If your establishment is allowed to open, take the following precautions until the advisory ends:

• DO NOT use tap water. If any food or drinks were made after the advisory, they must be discarded. Any surface or utensil cleaned after the advisory should be re-cleaned and sanitized as outlined below.
• Use bottled water for drinking. Do not use drink dispensers or iced tea and coffee machines which are connected to the water supply. Do not use ice made with water from the facility.
• Use ice prepared before the advisory and do not make new ice or purchase packaged potable ice. Throw away ice prepared with contaminated water.
• Use disposable supplies and utensils for preparing and serving food as much as possible.
• Minimize warewashing. For any cooking/serving utensils that must be washed, set up a temporary three-bucket “wash, rinse, sanitize” station. Water used for temporary wash station must be boiled or bottled water. Each bucket should be large enough to submerge the articles being washed, rinsed, and sanitized. The same three-bucket process applies for water used to clean food contact surfaces.
• Wash hands with soap and potable water (boiled water or bottled water). Employees can further sanitize hands with sanitary wipes. Use individual paper towels for drying.
• DO NOT touch ready to eat foods with bare hands. Use physical barriers, such as disposable gloves, paper, and/or utensils when handling ready to eat foods.
• Wear glovesfor all food preparation and service. Practice proper glove usage.
• For foods that require water to prepare, only use food that was prepared prior to the advisory. Use bottled water to reconstitute dried foods.
• Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or as part of the cooking process. Do not thaw under running water. Obtain and use prewashed packaged produce. Use produce washed prior to the advisory. Wash produce with bottled water.
• Once the boil water advisory is lifted,flush out all water linesincluding drink dispensers, equipment containing water reservoirs, tea machines, and coffee machines prior to use. Discard any ice, clean the ice machine, and make and discard a new run of ice; then re-use the machine.