>> The best places to dine on Valentine's Day in Dayton
Much of Dayton, including the downtown and the Oregon District, and the most densely populated south suburbs are no longer under a boil advisory, according to the updated boil-advisory map.
Northern Montgomery County suburbs are still under the advisory.
Some restaurant owners are still checking with health officials to see what precautions, if any, still need to be taken in order to operate fully today, and whether they need to take any conservation measures.
>> Montgomery County water outage: Are you under a boil advisory?
Public Health Dayton-Montgomery County spokesman Dan Suffoletto said restaurants do not have to boil water if they are not in the still impacted areas.
Even still, Miami Valley Restaurant Association Executive Director Amy Zahora said several restaurants in cleared areas plan to take extra precaution to ensure guest safety for 24 hours.
This includes melting down ice, cleaning coffee pots that reach less than 180 degrees, cleaning soda lines and serving canned pops and bottled water.
>> Which local restaurants are affected by the water advisory on this Valentine’s Day?
***FIRST REPORT 12:33 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 ***
Restaurants in the Dayton area that are under a boil water advisory can open for Valentine’s Day, but must follow the order, according to local health officials.
In an email Jennifer Wentzel from Public Health Dayton-Montgomery County sent to Amy Zahora, executive director of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association, she outlined instructions restaurants should follow.
“If facilities do not have water, they may not operate. If they are under a boil order, which is very likely, there are certain steps they need to take to continue to operate.”
RELATED: Check Dayton.com for the best places to eat and other things to do for Valentine’s Day
Zahora said Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for local restaurants, but they are prepared to deal with the issue.
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“We are working closely with Montgomery County, but our restaurants know what to do in a boil advisory to make sure your Valentine’s Day goes off without a hitch,” Zahora said.
Among procedures the Ohio Department of Health says restaurants should follow during a water interruption:
* Obtain and use pre-washed packaged produce;
* Use produce washed prior to interruption;
* Use frozen/canned produce;
* Wash fresh produce with potable water from an alternative approved source.
* Discontinue sale of prepared foods;
* Use water from an alternative approved source;
* Use ice prepared before interruption;
* Do not use ice in preparing/serving beverages;
* Purchase commercially packaged potable ice.
* Have employees wash hands with potable water from an approved alternative source;
* Use only single-service tableware and single use kitchenware;
* Wash utensils, etc. with an approved alternative water source.
Zahora has shared instructions from the Ohio Department of Health with restaurants that are members of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association.
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