El Paso Dept. Of Health Says To Continue Boiling Your Water

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health continues to remind local restaurants and food vendors of the importance in boiling water as a preventative measure in ensuring the public’s safety.

At this time all El Paso Water Utilities customers, both private and public, are being advised to boil any water that will be consumed. EPWU says they want people to boil water as a precautionary measure.

The recommendation is to not use untreated water that is used in soda fountains, as well as coffee and ice machines. In addition, food establishments are advised to use the manual three step method for dishwashing.

The following is information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in dealing with safe water in an emergency and how to clean and prepare ice machines for use after the boil water alert is cancelled.

Water-Safe Drinking Water

After an emergency, especially after flooding, drinking water may not be available or safe to drink for personal use. As a result, residents may have to find a source of safe drinking water or know how to treat their water for use in certain activities, such as drinking, making ice, washing hands, and brushing teeth.

Note: Caffeinated drinks and alcohol dehydrate the body, which increases the need for drinking water.

Floods and other disasters can damage drinking water wells and lead to aquifer and well contamination. Flood waters can contaminate well water with livestock waste, human sewage, chemicals, and other contaminants which can lead to illness when used for drinking, bathing, and other hygiene activities.

Before an emergency or a temporary problem with a community water system, a community drinking water treatment facility should have an emergency plan in the event that service is disrupted. Water treatment facilities monitor drinking water to meet federal and state regulations.

Make Water Safe

Water often can be made safe to drink by boiling, adding disinfectants, or filtering.

IMPORTANT: Water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals will not be made safe by boiling or disinfection. Use a different source of water if you know or suspect that water might be contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals.

Boiling

If you don’t have safe bottled water, you should boil water to make it safe. Boiling is the surest method to make water safer to drink by killing disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

You can improve the flat taste of boiled water by pouring it from one container to another and then allowing it to stand for a few hours, OR by adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.

If the water is cloudy:

Filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter OR allow it to settle. Draw off the clear water. Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes). Let the boiled water cool. Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.

If the water is clear:

Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes). Let the boiled water cool. Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.

Disinfectants:

If you don’t have safe bottled water and if boiling is not possible, you often can make water safer to drink by using a disinfectant such as unscented household chlorine bleach or iodine. These can kill most harmful organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, but are not as effective in controlling more resistant organisms such as the parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

To disinfect water:

Filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter OR allow it to settle. Draw off the clear water. To use bleach, add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops; about 0.625 milliliters) of unscented liquid household chlorine (5-6%) bleach for each gallon of clear water (or 2 drops of bleach for each liter or each quart of water), Stir the mixture well. Let it stand for 30 minutes or longer before you use it. Store the disinfected water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers. To use iodine, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Chlorine dioxide tablets are another disinfectant that now is available in some outdoor stores. This disinfectant has proven to be effective against pathogens, including Cryptosporidium, if the manufacturer’s instructions are followed.

Filters:

Many portable water filters can remove disease-causing parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia from drinking water. If you are choosing a portable water filter, try to pick one that has a filter pore size small enough to remove both bacteria and parasites. Most portable water filters do not remove viruses. Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the water filter you intent to use. After filtering, add a disinfectant such as iodine, chlorine, or chlorine dioxide to the filtered water to kill any viruses and remaining bacteria.

Do not serve or consume:

Water that has not been disinfected, ice or drinks made with water that has not been disinfected, or raw foods rinsed with water that has not been disinfected. Discontinue service of equipment with water line connections (e.g., post-mix beverage machines, spray misters, auto-fill coffee/tea makers, instant hot water heaters, ice machines, etc.). All employees with diarrheal illness should be regulated by standard rules of exclusion from work.

Commercial Ice Maker Users

During a boil water advisory discard ice made before the boil water advisory was issued and discontinue making ice. Use commercially-manufactured ice.

When the boil water advisory is cancelled

A. Flush the water line to the machine inlet:

1. Close the valve on the water line behind the machine and disconnect the water line from the machine inlet.

2. Open the valve, run 5 gallons of water through the valve, and dispose of the water.

3. Close the valve.

B. Replace any in-line filters.

C. Flush the water lines in the machine:

1. Reconnect the water line to the machine outlet.

2. Open the valve.

3. Turn on the machine.

4. Make ice for 1 hour and dispose of the ice.

D. Clean and disinfect all parts and surfaces that come in contact with water and ice, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

For more information see the links below:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/facts.asp

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/index.html