Internal Plumbing Flushing

What To Do After a Lead Service Line is Disturbed

Any work on or near a lead service line, such as the replacement of a water main, service line, or meter, may move, vibrate, or physically disturb the lead water service line. This can release lead particles and cause a temporary increase of lead levels in water. Elevated lead levels can persist for up to six months afterward. Lead particles may collect in low-lying sections of pipe or behind faucet aerators (screens), increasing the risk of lead exposure until they are fully flushed or cleaned.

  1. Daily Flushing
  2. Filter Your Water

Whole-house flushing should be performed after the plumbing work is completed and BEFORE using any water. 

Make sure your icemaker and any other water-using appliances are turned off and do not use any hot water until completing the steps below.

1. Locate all cold-water faucets in the house where you can run the water without the sink or tub overflowing. Include all sinks and bathtub faucets as flushing points. For showers attached to bathtubs, use the tub faucet as a flushing point and do not run water through the showerhead. If the shower is NOT attached to a bathtub AND the showerhead can be removed, include the shower as a flushing point. Set any home water treatment devices, like water softeners, to bypass mode.

2. Remove aerators (screens) and point of use filtration devices from faucets and remove showerheads.

3. Beginning on the lowest level of the home, fully open the cold-water faucets throughout the home.

4. Let the water run for at least 30 minutes at the last faucet you opened (top floor). All faucets should remain on during the flush.

5. Do not consume tap water, open hot water faucets, or use icemaker or filtered water dispenser until flushing is complete.

6. Turn off the faucets in reverse order starting from the highest level and working downward.

7. Reattach faucet aerators and showerheads. Clean any debris from aerators before reattachment.

8. If your lead or galvanized service line was replaced, repeat this procedure every 2-weeks for 3 months.

NOTE:  Please monitor your sinks during the flushing process. Make sure the drain is open and clear so water can flow freely to drain. Make sure water can drain as fast as water is flowing from tap during flushing. When faucet is open at high rate, especially since aerators/screens are removed, it can create water spray and the surrounding area may become slippery.