Updated: 4/30/2020
Measures to combat COVID-19 statewide have resulted in many buildings – such as restaurants, offices, factories and hotels – to be unoccupied for extended periods of time. Extended building vacancies have the potential to impact drinking water quality within the premises due to non-use.
When buildings become vacant for extended periods, stagnation of the water within the pipes can result in deteriorated water quality – such as loss of disinfectant residual, increased disinfection by-products, microbial growth such as legionella, and increases in metals such as lead. When water service is returned to a building after an extended period of non-use, it is important to address the stagnant water in the building’s plumbing to ensure safe drinking water quality is provided.
The CDC has published Guidance for Building Water Systems to help minimize the risk of diseases associated with water that has likely become stagnant in many buildings. The guidance recommends an eight-step process before reopening a building, which includes flushing the water system and maintaining the water system. Use this guidance, as well as the additional resources below, to answer questions or to communicate proactively with establishments in your community.
Additional resources are below:
https://www.asdwa.org/2020/04/13/covid-19-resources-for-building-water-systems/
https://www.waterrf.org/resource/evaluation-flushing-reduce-lead-levels-0
https://engineering.purdue.edu/PlumbingSafety/project/covid19-response
