With schools beginning to reopen in varying forms over the coming weeks, the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA) is recommending procedures set by government agencies for schools to take so that they may avoid issues with their drinking water plumbing systems after having little to no use over the past several months.
The inactivity in school buildings could result in stagnant water that may cause chlorine levels to drop to where it is no longer effective as a disinfectant. Chlorine is used in the ECWA’s water treatment process in part to ensure that there is no regrowth of biofilms that could contain legionella and other potentially harmful bacteria.
Schools are responsible for the maintenance of their internal plumbing systems to ensure water quality is not compromised or becomes unsafe to consume. Every building or facility plumbing system is unique, so it will be important to consider the design of the plumbing system when individual schools consider what actions they should take to ensure water quality. The ECWA recommends using resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure a building’s drinking water plumbing system is safe.