Monterey’s water situation results in conflicting information

MONTEREY — There seems to be confusion about what a boil-water advisory means for restaurants, as a result of Monterey’s water situation.

Mayor Jay Garber told town restaurants to shut down the last two days while that advisory was in effect after a water leak.

“They will not be allowed to use anything that came into contact with the water,” he said, adding that restaurants can’t even use dishes washed in the water.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, restaurant and food service providers can remain open if they follow safety regulations found at www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmond-city/emergency-guidelines-for-food-facilities-under-a-boil-water-advisory-bwa/.
“Food service establishments can remain open during a water service outage or boil water advisory as long as they can provide water safely,” the website states. “The facility will need to use an alternative water source (boiled, bottled, trucked in, etc.) until the advisory is lifted.
“The best practice is to use only boiled, bottled or treated water for employee handwashing. If that is not possible, and handwashing is done with soap and tap water, employees must thoroughly dry their hands with paper towels and then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Food handlers must not touch ready to eat foods with bare hands. Instead, they should use physical barriers, such as disposable papers, gloves and utensils.
“Patrons may use tap water for handwashing provided that hand sanitizer is made available at each sink. Managers should post a notice advising patrons not to use tap water for drinking or for brushing teeth.”

At the start of tonight’s Local Emergency Planning Commission meeting, emergency services coordinator Harley Gardner called the town’s water plant operator, Mike Isles, for information because Gardner said the town had not contacted him about the situation.
“Most of it (water) is back in service,” Isles said over the phone.

When Gardner asked about the boil water advisory, Isles said, “The town decided to do that, not the department of health. It’s a recommendation, not a requirement.”
Harley said Isles explained the situation did not meet the criteria for a boiled water advisory.
Cole Taggart of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management was also part of the LEPC meeting Tuesday night, and while he said he didn’t have specific information on the Monterey situation, in general water “has to make contact with soil in a pipe to require a boil water notice.”

The town intends to take a water sample to Richmond in the morning for testing; results could take 24 hours.

“Everybody should be aware to use water sparingly until we get the tanks topped off,” Garber said.
Meanwhile, the school has asked parents to send in filled water bottles with their children via an automated phone call to all families. “We strongly encourage students and staff to bring filled water bottles from home tomorrow, March 12, to help reduce the number of purchased water bottles needed,” the school said.

Superintendent Dr. Drew Maerz said the school will continue to purchase and provide bottled water and operate under boil water advisory recommendations until a clean water test is obtained by the town.