Texas Health and Human Services gives guidance for restaurants as boil water notice continues

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The Texas Health and Human Services gave guidance for restaurants operating in an area under a boil water order.

A boil water requirement occurs when there is a coliform bacteria violation, when water turbidity is over a 5.0 NTU, when water pressure is less than 20 PSI, or when there is a waterborne disease outbreak.

As of Saturday, the city of Tyler as well as many other cities across East Texas are still under a boil water notice.

Other places that have issued boil water notices include:

• Alto
• Arp
• Athens
• Canton
• Daingerfield
• Frankston
• Gum Creek Water Supply
• Hideaway and surrounding areas (Crystal Systems Texas, Inc. serves numerous customers outside of Hideaway)
• Lufkin
• Nacogdoches
• North Cherokee Water Supply Corporation
• Palestine
• Walnut Grove Water Supply Corporation
• West Jacksonville Water Supply Corporation
• Whitehouse

Retail, food establishments and restaurants are held responsible for ensuring compliance with food safety requirements when under a boil water order.

Following are temporary measures that can be taken under a boil water order:

DRINKING WATER

• Use commercially bottled water; or
• Use water that has been kept at a rolling boil for at least one minute, or
• Use water brought in from an approved public water supply in a covered, sanitized container.

BEVERAGES MADE WITH WATER

• Do not use post-mix carbonated beverage machines, auto-fill coffee makers, instant hot water heaters, ice machines, etc. using auto-fill methods

ICE MAKING

• Discard existing ice and do not make more ice.
• Use commercially manufactured ice.

COOKING

• Use commercially bottled water, or
• Use water that has been kept at a rolling boil for at least one minute; or
• Use water brought in from an approved public water supply in a covered, sanitized container.

HANDWASHING

• Use commercially bottled water, or
• Use water that has been kept at a rolling boil for at least one minute; or
• use water brought in from an approved public water supply in a covered, sanitized container.
• Handwashing procedures must follow the Texas Food Establishment Rules. The water temperature for handwashing must be a minimum of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.