As businesses prepare to reopen as restrictions are eased, building owners and tenants need to pay special attention to their water supply. What happens when water doesn’t move for a period of time inside the pipes? When water does not move it can become stagnant and bacteria can grow up in the pipes. If your building has been running at little or no capacity during the stay-at-home orders, it is essential that you flush your water supply before allowing employees or clients back in. Be sure to flush all water fixtures in your building using both the hot and cold water and let the water run in these fixtures for several minutes with the goal to flush the entire indoor water system to replace all water. Ice machines should also be thoroughly cleaned and flushed.

Washington State Department of Health Office resources:

• COVID-19 Guidance for Legionella and Building Water System Closures
• COVID-19 Guidance for Monitoring NTNCs and TNC Water Systems
• Shock Chlorination Guidance for Building Water Systems