A Boil Water Advisory has been issued by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (NBPSDHU). The boil water advisory remains in effect until it is lifted by the NBPSDHU.
The guidelines below are provided to operators of commercial ice processors in response to the boil water advisory issued.
During a Boil Water Advisory
Manufacturing of ice must be stopped until the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) or designate deems the water quality safe. Generally this would require that the MOH has rescinded the boil water advisory, or that appropriate water treatment devices as determined by the MOH, have been incorporated as part of the ice-manufacturing process. All ice that has been manufactured with contaminated or suspected contaminated water must be appropriately discarded.
Handwashing Guidelines During a Boil Water Advisory
Wash your hands as you normally do, using warm running water and soap. If the boil water advisory has been issued because of a waterborne outbreak of illness, wash hands under warm running water and soap or use alcohol-based hand disinfectants containing a minimum concentration of 60% alcohol. These products are widely used in health care settings after washing or in situations when water is not available.
Upon Lifting a Boil Water Advisory
The lines connected directly to tap water must be disconnected then cleaned and sanitized according to manufacturer’s instructions once the boil water advisory has been lifted. For specific instructions about flushing, cleaning and sanitizing the ice-manufacturing equipment, consult your instruction manual(s) or with the company which constructed or installed the machinery.
General Guidelines for Flushing Ice-Manufacturing Equipment
A. Flush the water line to the machine inlet;
- Close the valve on the water line behind the machine and disconnect the water line from the machine inlet;
- Open the valve, run approximately twenty (20) liters of water through the valve and dispose of the water;
- Close the valve;
- Reconnect the water line to machine inlet; and
- Open the valve.
B. Flush the water lines in the machine
- Turn on the ice machine; and
- Make ice for one hour and dispose of the ice.
C. Clean and sanitize all parts and surfaces that come in contact with water and ice.
For more information, call the Health Unit at (705) 474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 or visit www.healthunit.biz
Adapted from the Cryptosporidium and Water: A Public Health Handbook (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997) and the Protocol for the Investigation and Control of Cryptosporidium and Giardia Waterborne Outbreaks (Ontario Ministry of Health, 1997).
Updated: July 2009
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