Section 441.113.6. Sanitation, water, and waste disposal.

         113.6(1) Food preparation and storage. Food preparation areas shall be clean and there shall be facilities to store perishable food at cold temperatures and storage areas for other food supplies.

         113.6(2) Milk supply. Fluid or powdered milk sufficient to meet the needs of the foster child shall be provided.

         113.6(3) Public water supply. The water supply is approved when the water is obtained from a public water supply system.

         113.6(4) Private water supply.

            a.               Each privately operated water supply shall be annually checked and evaluated for obvious deficiencies such as open or loose well tops or platforms and poor drainage around the wells.

            b.               As part of the evaluation, water samples must be collected and submitted by the licensing worker or health sanitarian to the university hygienic laboratory or other laboratory certified by the hygienic laboratory and analyzed for coliform bacteria. In order to be licensed for the care of children under two years of age the nitrate (NO3) content must be analyzed.

            c.               When the water supply is obtained from more than one well, proof of the quality of the water from each well is required.

            d.               When the water sample result shows the water is potable, the license can be granted.

            e.               When the water sample is not approved, no license shall be issued until the foster parents provide a written statement that foster children will be provided potable water, where it will be obtained, and how it will be transported and stored.

             (1)             The statement shall be provided on Form 470-0699, Provisions for Alternate Water Supply.

             (2)             Annual testing of the water may be waived after three consecutive years when the family has made ongoing alternative arrangements for the use of safe, potable water.

         113.6(5) Sewage treatment.

            a.               Foster homes, wherever possible, shall be connected to public sewer systems.

            b.               Private disposal systems shall be designed, constructed and maintained so that no unsanitary or nuisance conditions exist, such as surface discharge of raw or partially treated sewage or failure of the sewer lines to convey sewage properly.

         113.6(6) Garbage storage and disposal.

            a.               A sufficient number of covered garbage and rubbish containers shall be provided to properly store all material between collections.

            b.               Containers shall be fly tight, watertight, and rodent proof and shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 237.3.

[ARC 8010B, IAB 7/29/09, effective 10/1/09]