RWA Urges Reopening Schools To Follow Guidance For Water Systems

Press release from South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority:

Aug. 19, 2020

As Connecticut prepares to welcome students back to the classroom, the Regional Water Authority (RWA) is urging all schools to follow return to service guidance offered by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Water left in the internal plumbing of unused buildings can become stagnant, raising health, safety and taste concerns. The steps recommended by DPH to remove stagnant water from a building’s internal plumbing can be found on the RWA's website.

Water delivered to the tap by the RWA has been filtered and treated to ensure it is safe and high quality. The quality of the RWA’s water has not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if a building’s water system has seen little to no use for several weeks, water in the internal plumbing will have become stagnant, which may cause health, safety and taste issues.

The RWA’s water quality experts are directly contacting school superintendents to discuss the issue of stagnant water. These superintendents are being advised to ensure that all schools follow the steps recommended by DPH to remove stagnant water from internal plumbing systems.

DPH recommends that water systems be brought back into service by thoroughly and methodically running all faucets, shower heads, ice makers and other water fixtures with cold water first and hot water second. Schools should consider hiring a professional to assist with this process, especially in cases where HVAC systems are present. DPH recommends that after this step is completed, all equipment be examined and water quality be tested.

Water left stagnant in an internal plumbing system can corrode pipes, resulting in discoloration, unpleasant odors or other quality issues. Stagnant water can also cause the growth of harmful bacteria, such as Legionella, which can make people ill if they breathe in small droplets of water in the air that contain the bacteria. For this reason, it is important that schools follow a careful return to service protocol so that they can safely reopen.

About the Regional Water Authority

Trusted since 1849, the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) is a nonprofit corporation that delivers water for life by providing high-quality water and services to almost 430,000 people in 15 cities and towns throughout Greater New Haven. As a conscious business, the RWA acts as a responsible steward of the environment by protecting the more than 27,000 acres of watershed land it owns and promoting sustainable practices. It was named a Bicycle Friendly Business by the League of American Bicyclists in 2019. Our more than 270 employees work toward our vision of being an innovative water utility that sustains life, strengthens communities and protects natural resources for future generations. For more information on the RWA, please visit rwater.com.

This press release was produced by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. The views expressed here are the author's own.