Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Loss of Water Supply in Food Service Establishments

From a public health standpoint, running water is more than a mere convenience. It is the most vital component of food safety. Michigan law requires operations to cease when a food service establishment loses its water supply. Sadly, some food service operators don’t understand this, or worse, some do know it but put short-term profits ahead of their customer’s safety and well being by operating without running water. Without running water, proper hygiene is impossible. Foods are easily contaminated. Hands cannot be washed. Toilets cannot be flushed. Dishes, utensils, and equipment cannot be cleaned. Back  

If you have a total loss of water:

 ·         Notify the Health Department immediately and close the establishment.

·         Once water pressure is restored and your water is deemed safe to drink either by your municipal supplier or by the health department, open all faucets and flush your plumbing system for 15 minutes. A lso flush beverage machines.

·         Resume operation.

 If water is present but you are told it is unsafe (Drinking Water A dvisory):

 ·         Notify the Health Department immediately.

·         Stop using all equipment connected to the water supply (beverage machines, ice machines, etc.). Discard all beverages, food, and ice made with questionable water.

·         Serve only bottled water and commercially bagged ice.

·         Use only bottled water when preparing recipes that call for water.

·         Do not serve raw foods that require washing (salads, fresh cut fruits and vegetables, etc.).

·         Tap water may be used for washing hands, dishes, and utensils; cleaning the establishment; and flushing toilets.

·         A fter washing hands in tap water contaminated with coliform bacteria, follow the wash with a hand sanitizer and observe the “no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods” rule without exception.

·         Once your water is deemed safe to drink either by your municipal supplier or by the Health Department, open all faucets and flush your plumbing system for 15 minutes.

·         Resume operation using tap water.

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