Guidance for Restoring Water Quality in Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown

With the stay at home orders and other measures that have been taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many buildings and businesses have had reduced water usage for weeks or even months. This could lead to stagnation and deterioration of water quality in the building’s plumbing.

The plumbing systems of these buildings should be flushed before the building is returned to normal usage. The stagnant water in both the hot and cold water systems of the building should be systematically flushed out from the building’s plumbing so that it is replaced with fresh water. The building’s whole plumbing system should also be checked to verify that it is working properly. This is includes hot water heaters, drinking fountains, icemakers, water softeners, etc.

We recommend that building owners and managers follow the guidance issued by either the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

See the links below for these recommendations:

Information on Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use

Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation