Flushing Procedures

If your lead service line has recently been replaced or repaired, or your water service has been turned back on, the City recommends that you take the following steps to reduce your short-term exposure to potential lead particulates which may have been loosened during the work on your piping.

• Step 1: Once your water service has been turned on or service line repair work completed, open all exterior spigots (hose bibs).

• Step 2: Let all exterior spigots run fully open for 10 minutes.

• Step 3: Remove all screens (aerators) from all the cold-water faucets or cold-water fixtures inside your home. Do not perform any flushing of hot water piping until the full flushing procedure has been completed as described.

• Step 4: After 10 minutes of only running the exterior spigots (hose bibs), fully open all interior cold-water faucets and cold-water fixtures (once the screens (aerators) have been removed). Allow both the exterior spigots (hose bibs) and all the interior cold-water faucets and cold-water fixtures to run together for 5 minutes.

• Step 5: After 5 minutes of running the interior and exterior fixtures together, close all the exterior spigots (hose bibs).

• Step 6: Continue to let all interior cold-water faucets and cold-water fixtures run for an additional 25 minutes.

• Step 7: After 25 minutes of flushing only the interior cold-water faucets and cold-water fixtures has passed, turn off all interior cold-water faucets and cold-water fixtures.

• Step 8: Replace all screens (aerators) removed in step 3 above.

You may now use your home's water supply, both hot and cold water, as needed.