S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-16.1807

Current through Register Vol. 48, 12, December 27, 2024

Section 61-16.1807 - Water Requirements

A. The hospital shall establish written policies and procedures to prevent waterborne microbial contamination within the water distribution system.

B. The hospital shall ensure the practice of hand hygiene to prevent the hand transfer of pathogens, and the use of barrier precautions (e.g. gloves) in accordance with established guidelines.

C. The hospital shall eliminate contaminated water or fluid from environmental reservoirs (e.g. in equipment or solutions) wherever possible.

D. The hospital shall not place decorative fountains and fish tanks in patient-care areas. If decorative fountains are used in separate public areas, the hospital shall ensure that they are disinfected in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and safely maintained.

E. The hospital plumbing fixtures which require hot water and which are accessible to patients shall be supplied with water which thermostatically controlled to a temperature of at least 100 degrees F. (37.8 degrees C) and not exceeding 125 degrees F. (51.7 degrees C.) at the fixture.

F. The hospital shall have a written plan to respond to disruptions in water supply. The plan must include a contingency plan to estimate water demands for the entire facility in advance of significant water disruptions (i.e., those expected to result in extensive and heavy microbial or chemical contamination of the potable water), sewage intrusion, or flooding.

G. When a significant water disruption or an emergency occurs, the hospital shall:

1. Adhere to any advisory to boil water issued by the municipal water utility;

2. Alert patients, families, employees, volunteers, students and visitors not to consume water from drinking fountains, ice, or drinks made from municipal tap water, while the advisory is in effect, unless the water has been disinfected;

3. After the advisory is lifted, run faucets and drinking fountains at full flow for greater than 5 minutes, or use high-temperature water flushing or chlorination;

4. All ice and drinks that may have been contaminated must be disposed and storage containers cleaned; and

5. Decontaminate the hot water system as necessary after a disruption in service or a cross-connection with sewer lines has occurred.

H. The hospital shall adhere to Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standards for quality assurance performance of devices and equipment used to treat, store and distribute water in hemodialysis units and for the preparation of concentrates and dialysate.

I. The hospital shall follow appropriate recommendations to prevent cross connection and other sources of contamination of ice for human consumption, and to prevent contamination of hydrotherapy equipment and medical equipment connected to water systems (e.g. automated endoscope reprocessors).

J. The hospital shall maintain and implement policies and procedures addressing the management of failure of waste water systems.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-16.1807

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014; State Register Volume 48, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/28/2024.