Advice for businesses on the return to work

IRISH Water is offering advice and practical tips to help ensure internal water and wastewater systems are made safe for staff, customers and visitors on the return to work. A number of issues can arise when buildings are left unused for a period of time. These include leaks that cause damage to premises and stock; blockages in pipes from fats, oils or greases; dead rodents in water tanks that can cause contamination; and stagnant water in plumbing and cooling systems that can create serious health risks such as Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and hospitalisation is generally required to treat symptoms.

•FLUSH water pipes by running taps until the water temperature is constant and mains water is drawn through the system; •CLEAN all drinking water outlets with suitable disinfectants; •Flush all toilets, and run water through sinks and shower basins, to ensure that the water trap seal is replenished in the u-bends;

•INSPECT all storage tanks and cisterns, and drain, clean, disinfect and refill as necessary; •Clean shower-heads with disinfectant and flush water through until clean, with a minimum temperature of 60°C for hot water showers; •EMPTY hot water tanks and refill with water heated to 70° C for at least an hour before use;

•REPLACE filter cartridges in water filters and clean & disinfect the cartridge holder according to manufacturer’s instructions, then run water through to flush clear; •CHECK pumps on the building’s water/wastewater system to ensure that they are operating correctly; •Check sewer & drains and clear any blockages promptly; •CHECK on-site wastewater treatment systems to ensure they are operating correctly.