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Hundreds of Md. restaurants still shut because of pipe break

SILVER SPRING Md. Hundreds of restaurants in the suburbs outside Washington, D.C. remained closed Wednesday following a major water main break on Sunday. Others are being advised to boil water for kitchen use until tests confirm that supplies are safe.

About 700 restaurants were forced to close as a result of Sunday’s pipe burst, according to Melvin Thompson, vice president of government relations for the Maryland Restaurant Association.

“The [state] health department has announced that restaurants will not be able to use water unless it is bottled or boiled and are restricted to selling only prepackaged foods,” Thompson said. He added that even though test results issued last night showed no signs of water contamination, operators are forbidden to use or sell anything that requires washing or sanitation until the restrictions are lifted.

Although Montgomery County executives and the Maryland Department of Health allowed restaurants to reopen today, they must continue to use bottled or boiled water for all dishwashing, which also must be done manually, Thompson said. He added that restaurants are limited to bagged, purchased ice until the second round of tests come back.

“As long as they follow the established guidelines, they can operate,” he said.

Thompson also indicated that a number of restaurant companies have contacted their insurance carriers to see “if they can make claims on the economic losses resulting from the water restrictions.”

Thompson said a total of about 4,000 foodservice establishments are located throughout the state.

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