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The temporary shutdown or reduced operation of a building and reductions in normal water use can create hazards for returning occupants Check for hazards before reopening after a prolonged period of building inactivity Hazards include mold, Legionella (the cause of Legionnaires’ disease), and lead and copper contaminationpdf iconexternal icon from corroded plumbing For mold, a “prolonged period” may be days, weeks, or months depending upon building-specific factors, season, and weather variables 1 For Legionella, a “prolonged period” may be weeks or months depending on plumbing-specific factors, disinfectant residuals, water heater temperature set points, water usage patterns, and preexisting Legionella colonization 2 For lead and copper, a “prolonged period” may be hours, days, weeks, or months depending on plumbing and water-specific factors, the amount of time the water remains stagnant inside the pipes, whether there are protective scales or coatings present inside pipes that prevent metals from leaching into water, and the materials used to build the plumbing system 3 Note that additional hazards not discussed on this page may exist for returning occupants These can include other hazards, such as non-tuberculous mycobacteria, disinfection by-products, and sewer gases that enter buildings through dry sanitary sewer drain traps
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