CT Water To Commercial Sector: Flush Pipes Before Opening Back Up

HARTFORD/TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — Connecticut Water Co. is recommending that building owners and property managers flush the water pipes in any commercial structure that may have been vacant or infrequently used over the last several weeks before businesses open back up with lightened coronavirus restrictions.

The same goes for homes that have been unoccupied during the pandemic, water company officials said.

In an advisory sent out Monday, utlity officials said water coming into buildings through water mains will be safe to drink and "continues to meet all state and federal drinking water requirements." Water that sits inside a building's pipes for long periods of time can become stagnant and may become discolored or allow bacteria to grow or "cause unwanted contaminants to leach from pipe materials," water company officials said.

"To avoid these concerns, it is highly recommended to flush the water through the system inside the property prior to resuming regular water use," the advisory said. "This ensures that the water consumed is safe to use after the prolonged shutdown."

According to the advisory, most property owners can flush their buildings by running the taps from all points of use for roughly 10 minutes. Examples are showers, all sink faucets, ice machines, drinking water fountains and coolers.

Flushing may need to occur in segments, depending on to replace all water inside the building's piping with fresh water from the water main. It is also a "good idea to replace any filters if water filtration systems are used in the building," utility officials said.

Owners of residential properties that have been vacant should also flush their cold water lines before using or consuming the tap water.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health has also provided Return to Service guidance for buildings that have closed or partially closed.

The towns served by Connecticut Water are: Ashford, Avon, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bolton, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Griswold, Guilford, Hebron, Killingly, Killingworth, Lebanon, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Oxford, Plainfield, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Simsbury, Somers, Southbury, South Windsor, Stafford, Stonington, Suffield, Thomaston, Thompson, Tolland, Vernon, Voluntown, Waterbury, Westbrook, Willington, Windsor Locks and Woodstock.