34 HEALTH AND SANITATION
“ Water is essential to life , but it is also an efficient carrier of disease .”
Additional flushing is required until a chlorine residual is determined at all outlets . If , after additional flushing , residual chlorine is still not present , contact the water utility to report the lack of residual chlorine in the building after extensive flushing . Inquire about the residual chlorine levels and how to remedy the problem .
• Clean and replace aerators . Remove , clean , and replace showerheads . Check all fixtures for proper functionality .
3 . Repeat step 2 for each bathroom , shower room , break room or other room containing water using fixtures . Work from the farthest-away fixture back towards the incoming flow of water and go up one floor at a time .
Additional Tips : The following tips may be especially helpful in large buildings to more quickly and safely flush vertical risers and long fixture branches . These tips can reduce the number of repetitive flushes , further reduce the generation of aerosols , and help reduce long flush times .
Toilets : Water lines servicing toilets can be quickly and safely flushed without excessive repetitive flush activations . For example , it is possible to carefully remove a toilet tank flapper or temporarily disable a flushometer-valve to provide for a run-on condition . This will flush cold water lines directly into the sanitary drain quickly and efficiently and will also reduce the generation of aerosols . It is not recommended to put flushometer-valves servicing urinals into a run-on condition due to small trap diameters in urinal fixtures , which could result in overflows .
Electronically operated faucets and flushometer-valves : Some electronic faucets and flushometer-valves can be programmed or set to better facilitate flushing .
Check with the appropriate manufacturers to determine if the above options are appropriate for their products and follow their instructions .
Post-flush : Ensure that the presence of residual chlorine has been verified at various points of the building , concentrating on the fixtures farthest away from the incoming flow of water . Where residual chlorine is not verified , additional flushing of those fixtures will be required .
Return the hot water system ( s ) to normal operating temperatures . Ensure that the plumbing system is balanced and working properly .
Schools and day care centres : It is particularly important to clean water cooler / fountain filters and aerators in schools and day care centres . Any disruption of supply pressure that may have occurred while the building was shut down can dislodge particulates , including lead , which can get trapped in aerators and filters , spiking lead levels and reducing water quality .
Water treatment systems and drinking water filters : If there are water treatment or filtration products used in the plumbing system , such systems may need to be regenerated , flushed , or require filter replacement . Consult and follow manufacturer flushing and disinfection procedures and recommendations .
At-risk populations : For all buildings serving immunocompromised , high-risk populations , consider testing for Legionella at least seven days prior to reopening the building . Water samples for testing should be collected after flushing the water system .
Building water safety management plans : Water is essential to life , but it is also an efficient carrier of disease . The Covid-19 pandemic reminds us just how critically important proper design and maintenance of building water systems are toward protecting public health . While the Covid-19 pandemic social distancing requirements remain in effect , IAPMO joins with the US CDC in encouraging building owners and facility mangers to review and consider establishing a building water safety management plan as detailed in ASHRAE 188-2018 – Legionellosis : Risk Management for Building Water Systems , and having water teams trained and certified to ASSE International ’ s Series 12000 Standard – Professional Qualifications Standard for Infection Control Risk Assessment for All Building Systems . Finally , the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code contains a new Appendix N – Impact of Water Temperature and the Potential for Scalding and Legionella Growth . We encourage readers to review Appendix N . The 2021 UPC and all IAPMO codes and standards , are available for review , free of charge , at https :// www . iapmo . org / ibu / publications / readuniform-codes-online .
Other Important Details : Remember to flush water lines and clean the filters leading to coffee makers , ice makers , dishwashers , clothes washing machines and water fountains / coolers . Clean coffee makers and ice makers and run for a minimum of three cycles , discarding the water and ice . Contact the manufacturers of carbonated beverage machines and follow their flushing and disinfection instructions . In hair salons , special care should be taken to thoroughly flush and clean hand-held showerheads and hoses . Be sure to flush all outdoor utilities and hose bibs .
Other building water systems : It is important to also remember all other water systems in a building , such as water reuse systems , decorative water features such as fountains , and landscape irrigation systems . Follow manufacturer recommendations for disinfecting all water systems after periods of non-use . Also remember to flush any outdoor toilet or shower facilities and hose bibs .
IAPMO would like to thank the following experts for their input to these recommendations : Dr Andrew J . Whelton , Purdue University ; Dr Catlin R . Proctor , Purdue University ; Dr William J . Rhoads , Virginia Tech University , Dr Janet Stout , Special Pathogens Laboratory . PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2020 Volume 26 I Number 09