As schools open, PWD advises flushing internal plumbing to ensure safe water

The Portland Water District recommends before consuming water from a building that has been vacant for a long period, a thorough flushing of the internal plumbing should be conducted to remove stagnant water. Stagnant water can allow bacteria to grow and can cause unwanted contaminants to leach from pipe materials. 

Generally for smaller buildings not much bigger than a residence, the internal plumbing can be flushed by running all spigots for roughly 10 minutes or until the water feels cold and doesn’t seem to be getting colder. Larger buildings will need to be flushed longer.  

For more information on how to properly flush your internal plumbing, the links below provide guidance from the Maine Department of Health and the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEHHS/bulletins/287091a

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