If you are a business owner or a building manager, you are probably looking forward to the moment when the stay-at-home orders are finally lifted and you can open your doors again.

But here’s an issue that can’t be overlooked. As water sits stagnant in pipes and tanks within buildings, water quality issues can arise. That means the stale water should be flushed out of buildings before they re-open.

That stale water makes it easier for unwanted bacteria to grow including Legionella, which can cause Legionnaire’s Disease.

It is important that building owners and managers take the right steps to ensure proper water quality when returning buildings to service. And thankfully there is some guidance from the CDC to consider as buildings are reopening to ensure proper water quality.

The CDC recommends the following:

1. Develop a comprehensive water management program for your water system and all devices that use water. Guidance to help with this process is available from CDC and others.
2. Ensure your water heater is properly maintained and the temperature is correctly set
3. Flush your water system
4. Clean all decorative water features, such as fountains
5. Ensure hot tubs/spas are safe for use
6. Ensure cooling towers are clean and well-maintained
7. Ensure safety equipment including fire sprinkler systems, eye wash stations, and safety showers are clean and well-maintained
8. Maintain your water system.