Beckley Water Company would like to take a moment to remind everyone to consider the following:

If you have been away from your home or business during this Covid-19 pandemic and you are reopening or returning to a restaurant, school, church, public facility or home that has been closed, partially or altogether closed and/or used very little over the last several weeks:

Please consider the following:

– Extended periods of inactivity can cause legionella growth.

– Extended periods of inactivity can cause lead leaching.

The CDC recommends property owners to take several steps to minimize legionella risk and lead leaching before you reopen your business or buildings.

1. Ensure your water heater is properly maintained and the temperature is correctly set.
   1. Make sure that your water heater is set to at least 120°F.
   2. Higher temperatures can further reduce the risk of Legionella growth, but ensure that you take measures to prevent scalding if your water heater is set to greater than 130°F.
2. Flush your water system: What is Flushing? Flushing involves opening taps and letting the water run to remove water that has been standing in the interior pipes and or outlets. The flushing time may vary by the type of outlet being cleared.
   1. Flush hot and cold water through all points of use (e.g., showers, sink faucets, toilets)
   2. Flushing may need to occur in segments (e.g., floors, individual rooms) due to facility size and water pressure. The purpose of building flushing is to replace all water inside building piping with fresh water.
   3. The more extended the facility the more flushing will be required to decrease the age of the water.
   4. iii. Other water-using devices, such as ice machines, may require additional cleaning steps in addition to flushing, such as discarding old ice. Follow water-using device manufacturers’ instructions.

3. Clean all decorative water features, such as fountains.
4. Ensure hot tubs/spas and pools are safe for use.
5. Ensure cooling towers are clean and well-maintained.
6. Ensure safety equipment including fire sprinkler systems, eye wash stations, and safety showers are clean and well-maintained.

1. Maintain your water system.

1. 1. Water management: https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/wmp/toolkit/index.html
   2. Hotel Guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/wmp/hotel-owners-managers.html

1. Public Hot Tubs/Spas, Pools: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/aquatics-professionals/operating-public-hot-tubs.html
2. Health Care Facilities: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/prevent/environment/water.html

For more information customers can contact the US Environmental Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-09/documents/flushing_best_practices_factsheet_508.pdf

https://www.awwa.org/Resources-Tools/Resource-Topics/Coronavirus#10681543-shutoffs-and-return-to-service-guidance