Precautionary boil water alert for Monroe County has ice cold impact on some restaurants
A precautionary boil water alert issued for all Monroe County residents on Saturday afternoon by city of Bloomington utilities had a Sunday morning impact on area food service establishments.
Even though rank-and-file residents could make their own judgments about whether to follow the boil water advice, that was not an option for food service establishments.
They had to follow the rules sent out by Monroe County’s health department.
Here’s the protocol that was included in an email message sent to area food service establishments by the Monroe County health department.
The following items water source requires boiling or disinfect:
All water used in beverages, such as coffee, tea, or fountain drink dispensers
All water used as an ingredient in any food products (i.e.: condiments, sauces, dressings, desserts, etc.)
All water used to make consumable ice
All water used for handwashing
All water used for washing and sanitizing of food contact surfaces
All water used for washing of produce
All water used for sanitizing solution for wiping cloths
All water used in 3-compartment sinks
Compliance with the health department strictures had a different impact on different restaurants, which could be measured by availability of hot coffee inside a two-block area of downtown.
On Sunday morning, the Indiana Avenue Starbucks just north of 4th Street was not open for business well past its posted opening time—but there was not any signage posted confirming that the closure was due to the boil water order.
Open for business was Bloomington Bagel Co. on Dunn Street, across from People’s Park—but hot coffee was off the menu.
The big coffee machines used by BBC have a direct water line connection, which means that it’s not an option to fill the machines with pre-boiled or jugged water. Ice coffee was still available, though, because it is prepared a few days ahead of time.
Up the street from BBC, Village Deli offered its usual hot coffee. That’s because coffee brewing at Village Deli relies on old-school coffee pots that don’t have a waterline connection. But fountain drinks weren’t available.
The boil water alert coincided with the Sunday, Aug. 18 move-in day for Indiana University dormitories.
The drinking water standard in question is one for “turbidity” which is a measure of how clear or cloudy the water is. According to city of Bloomington utilities (CBU), high turbidity itself has no health effects.
However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection, and provide a medium for microbial growth, according to CBU.
The high turbidity that caused the boil water alert was due to a specific operator error involving sand that’s used for filtering at the water treatment plant.
City of Bloomington utilities communications manager Holly McLauchlin said Saturday that she expects CBU will be able to lift the precautionary boil water alert by Monday.
