Alaska Administrative Code
Title 18 - Environmental Conservation
Chapter 31 - Alaska Food Code
Article 5 - Sanitation and Physical Facilities
18 AAC 31.500 - Water supply

Universal Citation: 18 AK Admin Code 18 AAC 31.500

Current through August 30, 2024

(a) Except for a food establishment described in (e) of this section, the operator of a food establishment shall

(1) provide an adequate supply of potable water from an approved public water system source; if the establishment's source of potable water is not from a source regulated under 18 AAC 80, the operator shall inform the consumer by statements contained in placards conspicuously posted at the primary sales, service, or registration area or another approved notification that is most effective to communicate with the consumer that the water supply is not from a department-regulated source;

(2) ensure that potable water that is not piped to the food establishment is transported, delivered, and stored as required by 18 AAC 80; and

(3) ensure that steam used in contact with food or food-contact surfaces is free from harmful substances and is from a potable water source.

(b) The operator of a mobile food unit or kiosk shall ensure that potable water tanks, plumbing, and hoses that come in contact with potable water on the unit or kiosk

(1) consist of materials approved for that use by the National Sanitation Foundation, FDA, or an organization recognized as equivalent by the department;

(2) are used for no purpose except to hold, carry, or dispense potable water; and

(3) are protected from contamination during storage.

(c) The operator of a mobile food or kiosk unit shall ensure that

(1) the potable water inlet of the mobile food unit or kiosk is
(A) capped and cannot be contaminated by waste discharge, road dust, oil, or grease; and

(B) three-fourths inch in inner diameter or less; and

(2) potable water tanks supply a sufficient amount of water between refilling and hold at least one day's supply.

(d) The operator of a mobile food unit or kiosk, except a pushcart, shall

(1) take the following actions at least annually and before seasonal startup:
(A) superchlorinate each potable water tank for at least two hours with 50 ppm chlorine solution;

(B) drain, thoroughly rinse, and refill the tank; and

(C) submit water samples to a certified laboratory for coliform analysis
(i) before initial startup and before seasonal startup; and

(ii) every three months during operation; and

(2) take the following actions if notified that a water sample exceeds the maximum contaminant level for coliform bacteria as set out in 18 AAC 80.300(b) (5):
(A) immediately superchlorinate the tank as described in (1)(A) and

(B) of this subsection; and

(B) submit another water sample to a certified laboratory for coliform analysis within 24 hours after superchlorination.

(e) The operator of a food establishment placed under a boil water notice under 18 AAC 80 shall take the applicable actions listed in Table J of this subsection as directed by the department.

TABLE J

REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING UNDER A BOIL WATER NOTICE

Total Coliform

Exceedance

Fecal Coliform

Exceedance

Water supply Use boiled water or an

alternate potable water

supply

Use boiled water or an

alternate potable water

supply Food, drink, ice Use food, drink, and ice

prepared prior to notice Destroy food, drink, and

ice prepared prior to

notice. Limit menu and

type of food preparation

depending on volume

available from alternate

potable water supply

Water use equipment Disconnect equipment.

Clean and sanitize before

reuse

Disconnect equipment.

Clean and sanitize before

reuse Wiping cloths Rinse in 100 ppm chlorine

solution

Rinse in 100 ppm chlorine

solution Tableware Continue to use

Use single-service Other utensil washing Use automatic

warewasher or add

sanitizer to all sinks

Use automatic

warewasher or add

sanitizer to all sinks Handwashing stations Use existing handwash

sinks Set up temporary

handwash sinks using

alternate water source

(f) The requirements of this section do not apply to a

(1) temporary food service subject to 18 AAC 31.600;

(2) limited food service that dispenses only prepackaged food and that meets the requirements of 18 AAC 31.610(c);

(3) mobile food unit that dispenses only prepackaged food and that meets the requirements of 18 AAC 31.620(g);

(4) mobile retail food vendor that sells only prepackaged food and that meets the requirements of 18 AAC 31.625(1); or

(5) kiosk that sells only prepackaged food and that meets the requirements of 18 AAC 31.615(c).

(g) An exemption in (f) of this section does not relieve an operator from complying with requirements of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Effective 12/19/99, Register 152, the Department of Environmental Conservation readopted 18 AAC 31.500, to affirm the validity of that section following statutory amendments made in ch. 72, SLA 1998. The department also amended 18 AAC 31.500(b) - (f) and added a new subsection (g). Chapter 72, SLA 1998 relocated department authority to adopt regulations in 18 AAC 31 from AS 03.05 to AS 17.20.

Authority:AS 17.20.005

AS 17.20.020

AS 17.20.072

AS 17.20.180

AS 17.20.290

AS 44.46.020

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