Important

Information about Re-opening Buildings after Closure due to COVID-19 Pandemic CDC Buildings closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19 are advised to flush the water in the building’s pipes prior to re-opening. When a building is closed for an extended period of time, the water in the building’s pipes becomes stagnant. Stagnant water in the pipes may lead to health concerns including the growth of bacteria such as Legionella. Legionella is a bacterium that causes Legionnaire’s Disease. Legionnaire’s Disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection). Building owners are strongly urged to take the time to flush the water pipes in the building before reopening to help prevent more health issues. To flush your water system, flush both hot and cold water through all points of use (e.g., showers, sink faucets). The purpose of flushing is to replace stagnant water with fresh water.

For more information on this topic and to learn the proper flushing technique, please go to the CDC’s website here.