Building and business closures for weeks or months reduce water usage, potentially leading to stagnant water inside building plumbing. This water can become unsafe to drink or otherwise use for domestic or commercial purposes. EPA recommends that building owners and managers take proactive steps to protect public health by minimizing water stagnation during closures and taking action to address building water quality prior to reopening. 

• Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or No Use (PDF)(5 pp, 235 K, July 2020, Version 3)
• Checklist: Restoring Water Quality in Buildings for Reopening (PDF)(1 pg, 81 K, May 2020)