As eligible businesses prepare to open this Friday as a part of step 1 of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, it is important that they take the time to flush all areas of their building’s plumbing before using the water supply. This is particularly important for buildings that may have been unoccupied for a long period of time.
The City strongly recommends that businesses take time to evaluate the plumbing in their buildings and thoroughly flush areas that may be used for drinking water or material production. Prolonged stagnation of water can present serious water quality challenges.
The disinfectant in the City’s water supply depletes over time as it sits in pipes without being used. This allows potentially harmful organisms to grow inside those pipes creating a health risk. Discoloured water is also possible as a result of water chemistry changes from prolonged stagnation.
For more information, including links to documents that will help ensure water safety, visit https://cwwa.ca/covid-19-and-the-re-opening-of-buildings/.