Edgewater Burger King Cleared to Reopen After Temporary Water Violation Closure

If you tried to stop into the Edgewater Burger King for a Whopper or an order of Satisfries in the past several days, you were probably disappointed to find the restaurant suddenly closed. 

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health closed the restaurant on Oct. 8 after and independent lab tested the well water and found high levels of coliform bacteria.

Coliform bacteria in itself is not likely to cause illness but it can indicate that there are other bacteria or harmful elements in the water supply, according to Jerry Zitnik, program manager, housing and food control with the health department.

"Specifically coliform bacteria is an indicator bacteria and indicates that surface bacteria is getting into the well," Zitnik said.

The bacteria was found as part of a routine water test that is required by the county for all food service establishments that run on well water, Zitnik said. It is suspected that the bacteria entered the well water due to some kind of plumbing issue.

"Currently [Burger King is] in the process of chlorinating their well water and handling that," said Elin Jones, public information director at the health department.  

An independent laboratory retested the water at the restaurant Tuesday and the health department cleared the restaurant to reopen, Zitnik said.

A spokesperson from Burger King's corporate offices confirmed that the restaurant had been closed temporarily and should be open again by Oct. 15. Patch attempted to contact the Burger King restaurant in Edgewater for comment, but the listed phone number was disconnected.