An unplanned disruption in the water system may affect the water distribution lines and require heating or chlorination, flushing, and water testing before resumption of use. Optim Health System (OHS) will follow CDC/APIC guidelines by offering specific guidance on preventive and remediation strategies for the water distribution system and for supplying water for drinking, cleaning, bathing, toilet flushing, etc., including conditions involving a “Boil Water Advisory” (BWA), in the event of a water outage, disruption or BWA.
- Water for consumption (ice, oral hygiene, food sanitation): Boil water to a rolling boil for at least 5 minutes and cool for 10 to 15 minutes, or use bottled water.
- Posting of warning or “Out of Service” signs: Signage should include water fountains and ice machines. Post advisory notices against consuming tap water, ice, or beverages made with water.
- Hand hygiene: Identify waterless products (waterless surgical scrubs, gels, alcohol, packets, or wipes) to have on hand for hand washing; identify specific products that are safe and easy to use (i.e., distinguish hand-washing products from environmental cleaning products)
- Skin and wound care: Surgical incisions reseal within 24 to 48 hours after closure, and water available under a BWA, including bottled water, would be acceptable. However, sterile water should be used for irrigation of wounds or incisions.
- Bathing and showering: Have products (such as bottled water and no-rinse cleansing cloths) to have on hand for patient use (infants/adults); consider requesting personnel to bring bottled water for themselves to conserve supplies for patient use.
- Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization: Because surgical instruments are sterilized after cleaning and packaging for reprocessing, any microbes present in water under a BWA will be inactivated. No additional precautions are therefore necessary for these instruments after they have undergone a proper sterilization process. Routine practices for reprocessing endoscopes with narrow internal channels, such as forced air drying and flushing internal lumens with alcohol, will mitigate any contamination from rinse water even during a BWA.
- Environmental cleaning: Identify products for environmental cleaning and wiping during the water disruption (i.e., water used to dilute surface disinfectants if premixed, ready-to-use disinfectant or impregnated disposable cloths are not available)
- Dietary: Rinse raw food as needed in “disinfected” (i.e., boiled or potable water)
- Waste: Determine whether toilets can be flushed (dependent on BWA or water outage); if flushing is possible but water is shut off, identify locations where water may be stored and locate buckets that may be used for flushing.
- Disconnect ice machines: Whenever possible, ice machines should be disconnected from the water source and in advance of planned water disruptions.
