Menlo Park Municipal Water purchases all of its water from San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). This water comes from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in the Yosemite Valley, surface water from local watersheds, and/or imported water from the Sunol Valley Water Treatment plant. Menlo Park Municipal Water ensures high quality water for all customers, and as restrictions are lifted, reminds business customers that after any extended period of closure there may be water-quality issues that arise when you begin using water again.
The closure of a building may result in significant reduction in water use throughout the building, that in turn may result in degradation in water quality. Water-borne bacteria may have grown in the stagnant water in your internal plumbing system.
It is important to take steps in advance to mitigate the impacts of the reduction in water use. Fortunately, water quality can be improved with proper cleaning and flushing of the entire plumbing system when a building or facility is returned to service after a prolonged closure. Remember to flush before you reopen your business, school, gym, hotel, factory, and other facility that has complicated on-site water systems.
Standard maintenance includes checking temperature settings for hot water heaters, and ensuring that tanks, cooling towers, hot tubs, ice machines, soda fountains, dishwashers, and other plumbing components are safe for use. Flushing clears out low-quality water that accumulated during periods of no or minimal water use and replaces it with high quality water. Shower heads, faucets and other fixtures should be thoroughly cleaned. All large buildings should have a comprehensive water management program tailored to the individual on-site water system.
The SFPUC has provided start-up flushing guidance and a checklist to assist you in preparing your water system to ensure that high-quality, safe and reliable water service can be restored.
It is recommended that you consult with a plumbing contractor or other health and safety contractor as you implement these measures.
Please contact the SFPUC Water Quality Division at 650-652-3100, if you have any questions or need any additional information.
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