By rdnewsNOW staff

maintaining safe supply

Water and waste water tips for returning Red Deer businesses

May 14, 2020 | 8:56 AM

As some businesses get ready to open their doors in Red Deer after being closed for several weeks, The City of Red Deer is sharing some tips for water recovery.

In general, when a building is not in use and the building water system is not actively maintained, the water becomes stagnant within the pipes, equipment, and any storage tanks.

While municipal utilities are responsible to get clean, safe drinking water to each property, it is the responsibility of each property owner to ensure it maintains the safety of that water within their building.

The considerations below should be addressed before allowing tenants and visitors to re-occupy any building that has been closed for a prolonged period.

1. Flushing: Run the water of all taps until the water maintains a constant cold temperature. It is recommended to flush the cold water first, and then follow with the hot.
2. Cleaning: If possible, clean, disinfect and rinse all outlets.
3. Waste water: Waste water systems (like toilets) that haven’t been used for some time need to be flushed to ensure solids and sediment are washed away. Floor drains and pea traps are a concern as the water in them may have evaporated over the shutdown causing odour issues, so pouring water down these is recommended.

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For more information, including information for businesses eligible to operate and related restrictions, visit Alberta Health Services Biz Connect (www.alberta.ca/biz-connect).

Further resources for businesses are available from professional associations such as the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) www.cwwa.ca.

(The City of Red Deer)