Can the COVID-19 virus spread through drinking water?

Commercial Ice, Drinking Water, and Current Health Guidance

Older COVID-19-era articles can become misleading when temporary advisories are presented as permanent rules. For current decisions, follow your local health authority, water utility, the CDC, the EPA, and the instructions for the exact ice machine and filtration equipment.

Public drinking-water systems

The EPA states that standard treatment and disinfection processes are expected to remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19. A local boil-water advisory, loss of pressure, flooding event, or other utility notice is a separate issue and should be followed exactly.

Ice-machine sanitation

Safe ice handling still depends on clean water, correct installation, routine cleaning and sanitizing, protected scoops, clean bins or dispensers, and good employee hygiene. Antimicrobial materials or filtration do not replace the manufacturer cleaning schedule.

Filtration is site-specific

Select water treatment based on the incoming-water analysis, equipment requirements, scale and sediment risks, flow rate, and local conditions. Replace cartridges according to the applicable guidance and actual usage rather than assuming one universal interval.

Respond to unusual events

If a water utility issues an advisory or service is interrupted, stop using affected equipment as directed. Follow utility and health-department instructions for flushing, cleaning, sanitizing, filter replacement, and returning the machine to service. Use a qualified technician when the procedure or equipment condition is uncertain.

Plan from current guidance: Follow your local health authority and water utility, maintain the ice machine according to the manufacturer instructions, and review our commercial ice equipment guidance. For equipment selection and replacement planning, browse Hoshizaki commercial ice equipment or contact our team.