Are restaurants even allowed to be open on Hilton Head during a boil water advisory?

Yes.

According to the state Department of Health & Environmental Control, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, childcare facilities, correctional facilities, convenience stores, ice plants, hospitals, nursing homes and community residential care facilities should follow these recommendations:

• Stop using appliances and equipment that use drinkable water, such as dish machines, ice machines, fountainheads, drinking fountains, tea brewers and coffee makers.
• Use disposable paper, plastic or foam plates, cups, forks, etc.
• Prepare food using water that has been boiled.
• Wash hands with water that has been boiled and cooled.
• Wash, rinse and sanitize pots, pans and other equipment with water that has been boiled and cooled

These are only recommendations and restaurants are only required to follow them when a boil water notice comes into effect, which means a biological contaminant has been found in the water supply. Hilton Head Island is currently under a boil water advisory and not a boil water notice.

If restaurants cannot follow these instructions during a boil water notice, they must stop food service until the water is declared safe.

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Are restaurants even allowed to be open on Hilton Head during a boil water advisory?."