The restrictions placed on business and people by UK governments as a measure to restrict the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in mid-March 2020 left many premises either closed or with reduced staff. The pace of change meant that many drinking water systems may have been left stagnant over this period.

Water UK has provided guidance to building owners, landlords and managers and to those who operate “Refill” schemes as to the steps necessary once access to buildings is permitted as to how to restore their drinking water systems

Risks:
As a result of closure or part closure of buildings drinking water systems may have been subject to stagnation due to low turnover of mains water or water in storage. This could have resulted in warming of water in internal plumbing systems, microbiological regrowth or increased uptake of plumbing metals. Unless steps are taken before the building is reoccupied there is a risk of adverse drinking water quality and potential risks to health.

Mitigation steps:
As the country reestablishes itself after the restrictions put in place to manage the pandemic the local water company will be continuing to maintain its own networks and systems to assure the quality of water entering a building. It is critical that building owners, managers and landlords also take action to manage the risk of water systems that have not been used, to ensure that as staff return, water systems are safe. In the first instance there are some simple steps that can be taken to recommission your drinking water system:
• To ensure that the water in the plumbing systems is fresh, run all taps individually, starting
with the tap nearest to where the water enters the building and moving systematically to the most distant outlet. It should be sufficient to run until the water is clear and feels cool tothe touch. Where water is supplied from storage, storage cisterns should be emptied and filled with water direct from the incoming supply, before the taps are flushed;
· Flushing should be carried out in a manner which minimises aerosol generation, e.g. removing shower heads prior to flushing, to reduce the risks of Legionella transmission. Safety considerations should be made for those flushing including appropriate PPE;
· Ensure that all appliances are also thoroughly flushed through before use, using manufacturer’s instruction manual;
· If the property has any internal filters or water softeners, these should be checked to ensure they are working correctly as outlined in the manufacturer’s instruction manual;
· Ensure that if plumbers are required to make any changes or repairs to the plumbing system that approved plumbers under the WaterSafe scheme are used;
· Confirmatory testing is widely available for water systems.
Larger buildings, those with tanks, showers, calorifiers and more complex pipework the expectation is likely to be for more extensive flushing followed by cleaning and disinfection. If you have a complex plumbing system you should ensure you have a competent person to oversee this work. Recommissioning your water supply should be in-line with your water safety management plan, including pressure testing all systems.
If you still have concerns after taking these simple steps, please contact your water retailer or look on your local water company website for more information.