Vancouver residents reminded to take proactive steps to manage inactive private water systems, plumbing

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2020

Closures that last for weeks or months generally result in reduced water usage, which can potentially lead to stagnant water in the building’s plumbing

VANCOUVER – Many companies have closed to the public or cut headcounts for trying to reduce the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Washington “Stay Home, Stay Health” ordinance.

Building and business closures that last for weeks or months generally result in lower water consumption, which can potentially lead to stagnant water in the building’s plumbing. Photo by Mike Schultz

Building and business closures that last for weeks or months generally result in lower water consumption, which can potentially lead to stagnant water in the building’s plumbing.

The City of Vancouver Water Company recommends home builders, managers, and businesses now to take proactive steps to protect the health of citizens and employees by following state and federal guidelines for improving the quality of water in their plumbing systems.

The Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Resource Guidance provides detailed online procedures for maintaining building water systems during low usage and for bringing building water systems into service after closure and persistent low usage. These procedures include flushing the entire water system to replace all of the water, in addition to a variety of other measures, depending on the facility. A helpful information guide and checklist are also available from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Private owners are responsible for the private systems and plumbing that service their facilities. For information about the City of Vancouver water company, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/water.

For more information on public works and the City of Vancouver’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit www.cityofvancouver.us/coronavirus.

Information provided by the City of Vancouver.