Problem:
The Hennepin County Correctional Facility is the largest such facility in the State of Minnesota. Their board of supervisors is focused on sustainable operations and was seeking alternatives to the use of toxic chemicals for food contact surface sanitizing, cleaning surfactants and especially facility-wide infection control. They sought non-toxic alternatives as they had experienced disease transmission of certain drug-resistant nosocomial pathogens in their cell blocks and their inmates had previously abused certain toxic chemicals intended for use for food contact surface sanitization.
Objective:
JDP, Inc., Trustwater’s agent and HACCP consultant had approached the chief cook and food service director at the facility to discuss the merits of Trustwater’s electro-chemical activation (ECA) technology as a food contact surface sanitizer and presented data proving “Ecasol’s” effectiveness against H1 N1, Norovirus and many other pathogens. The key objectives for the project were to enhance cleaning and to improve sanitization efficacy whilst eliminating the risk of toxic chemical abuse. A demonstration of the tandem use of Aversol (catholyte; a natural surfactant) and Ecasol (anolyte; HOCl sanitizer) along with the 3rd party and published data impressed staff and county administrators and public health professionals.
Solution:
Based upon review of the data and Trustwater’s proposal, and given the facility managements past experiences with this technology as presented by Trustwater’s agent, they expanded their initial interest from simple food contact surface sanitization using Ecasol and Aversol in their large “commissary” type kitchen to several applications facility wide. The HACCP professionals at JDP, Inc., Trustwater’s agent, developed new standard sanitary operating procedures (SOP’s) for the facility and upon systems commissioning, retrained staff trainers accordingly. The county facility was awarded funding through the “lead by example” program from the counties “COOL” initiative for sustainability, made available because of Trustwater’s unique non-toxic platform. These funds enabled the facility to acquire a fully automatic model 110 with float controls.
Conclusion:
Today, they use Aversol solutions diluted 4:1 with water to replace all cleaners in their floor cleaning machines. These same Aversol cleaning solutions are used in two-section buckets when mopping certain areas. Ecasol sanitizer is generated with a neutral pH at 200PPM FAC and is used to fill both trigger sprayers and larger commercial type pressure sprayers for surface sanitizing. The model 110 with tank float controls is connected to 70liter reservoirs for both Ecasol and Aversol mounted on the wall at appropriate elevations providing ample solutions 24/7/365. From a performance perspective; tile in the kitchen was laid in 1932 and its grout had been discolored for at least the past (50) years. Due to Aversol’s unique abilities to remove foreign organics the grout lines are turning white again. Further, as floor wash/waste went to drain, the drain biofilms washed away and with them, the habitat for the drain flies that they had taken for granted for many decades. Their ovens and exhaust hoods have never been cleaner due to Aversol’s remarkable ability to cut fat, oil and grease and their floors have improved traction, reducing slip-fall risks. Additionally, administration’s concerns relating to abuse of cleaning and sanitizing products by inmates have been eliminated.
