1. Water Interruption – Incapacitation or Inconvenience?
GA Food Safety Task Force
Galen C. Baxter, REHS
April 11th, 2017

2. What is Potable Water?
Water intended for human consumption that meets bacteriological & chemical requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Act or other regulatory agency having equivalent authority.

3. Are Restaurants Required to Have Potable Water?
Yes!
The Georgia Food Service Rules and Regulations require all food service establishments to have a potable water supply.

4. What is a Water Interruption?

5. How Will I Know About a Water Interruption Event?
Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Protection Division (EPD) will issue an order for an Emergency Water Interruption Advisory:
Boil Water Advisory
Do Not Drink
Do Not Use
Through a local media source such as television, radio or social media
From the local Health Authority

6. What Do the Different Orders Mean?
DO NOT DRINK/DO NOT USE:
Possible chemical contamination
Always assume contamination has occurred
DO NOT BOIL WATER or CHLORINATE – heat can actually concentrate chemicals and adding other chemicals can cause adverse chemical reactions
BOIL WATER ADVISORY:
Possible biological contamination
Always assume contamination has occurred
Water must be brought to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT WITH CHLORINATION IN LIEU OF BOILING

7. Potable Water for Food Service Operations

8. Are You Prepared for a Water Interruption Event?
Did you know:
The GA Food Service Rules and Regulations will allow a food service establishment to remain open for up to 2 hours during an emergency event*
A pre-approved emergency action plan by the Health Authority will allow a food service establishment to stay open beyond 2 hours of a water interruption event.
*Provided proper alternatives can be met

9. Determining Your Ability to Continue Operations:
Things to consider BEFORE an event:
Do you want to remain open when there is a water interruption event?
- How long? 2 hours or more?
- Nature of the outage?
- Ability to treat or obtain water
from alternate approved
source?
- Toilet facilities?
- Menu items?
- Sanitation?

10. Creating a Plan for Less Than 2 Hours
When an event occurs:
- Check with your local water authority for details (type)
Contact your local health department to inform them of your situation
Are the toilet facilities operable and accessible?
- Can potable water alternatives be met? (Tables A & B on next slides)

13. Creating an Emergency Action Plan for Long-Term Water Interruption
If you decide to remain open during a water interruption event that lasts MORE than 2 hours, you MUST have a pre-approved plan from the Health Authority PRIOR to the occurrence of the event.

14. How Do You Create an EAP?
Determine operational capabilities in different situations: water main break, hurricanes, flooding, storms, etc.
Will other services be able to reach your establishment?
- Potable water trucks
- Portable toilets and service trucks
- Sanitation services
Use a guidance document such as:
2014 Conference for Food Protection’s
Emergency Action Plan for Retail Food
Establishments, 2nd Edition
Review your plan with your local Health Authority for approval and provide them with a copy of the approved plan.

16. Useful Links:
Georgia Department of Public Health Food Service Program:
Conference for Food Protection EAP Guidance Document:
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division:

17. QUESTIONS?