Flushing and Disinfection

of Hot and Cold Water Systems

BS 6700* requires that every new water create the foreseeable risk of legionellosis chlorine (equivalent to 50,000ppm). If
service, cistern, distributing pipe, hot (Legionnaires’ Disease). we wish to create an initial
water cylinder, or similar appliances and concentration of 50ppm chlorinated
modifications to these services, be Disinfection process water then we need to add 50 ÷1,000,000
thoroughly flushed with drinking water The disinfection is normally carried out x 100 ÷ 5 = 0.001 parts of sodium
before being used. by thorough flushing and then filling the hypochlorite solution to 1 part water.
system with chlorinated water at an initial This equates to a ratio of 1 litre
Where the piping system is not used concentration of 50ppm for a contact (of 5% sodium hypochlorite solution)
immediately after commissioning, and has period of 1 hour. The process has been to every 1000 litres of water system volume.
not been flushed at regular intervals (of successful if the free residual chlorine
Commercial strength products often
up to 30 days depending on the level is not less than 30ppm at the end of
contain 10% available chlorine, so where
characteristics of the water), it must be this period.
these more concentrated products are
disinfected before use. Furthermore, BS
used we would need to add
6700 requires that water-piping systems Safety
50 ÷ 1,000,000 x 100 ÷ 10 = 0.0005
be disinfected in the following situations: The piping system must not be used
parts of sodium hypochlorite solution to
during the disinfection process and all
● In new installations (except for private 1 part water.
outlets should have a temporary sign
dwellings occupied by a single family) This equates to a ratio of 1 litre (of
stating “DISINFECTION IN PROGRESS,
● Where major extensions or DO NOT USE”. To avoid generating 10% sodium hypochlorite solution) to
alterations have been carried out toxic fumes, caused by adverse chemical every 2000 litres of water system volume.
fumes, no other chemicals - such as
● Where underground pipework has Assessment of system volume
toilet cleansers for example - should be
been installed (except where localised added to the water until the disinfection In order to achieve the correct
repairs have been carried out or a process is complete. All building users concentration of disinfectant solution for
junction inserted after the fittings have (including people not usually present a gravity-fed system it is necessary to
been disinfected by immersion in a during working hours such as cleaners estimate the cistern water volume. The
solution of sodium hypochlorite that has and security guards) should be informed volume, in litres, can be obtained by
200 parts per million of available of the disinfection before it is carried out. multiplying the length, width, and height
chlorine) Note: 1ppm is equivalent to 1mg/l Operatives should refer to the COSHH up to the water level in metres and then
● Where it is suspected that data provided by the chemical suppliers multiply the result by 1000.
contamination may have occurred, for and wear appropriate PPE (goggles or
example: fouling by sewage, drainage, face shield, plastic apron and sleeves/ Copper tube to EN 1057
animals or physical entry by site gloves) when handling and mixing the Tube size Water volume
disinfectant. (litres per metre run)
personnel for interior inspection, painting
or repairs 15 x 0.7 0.145
Disinfectants
● Where a system has not been in The chemicals used to disinfect the 22 x 0.9 0.320
regular use and not regularly flushed system must be approved by the 28 x 0.9 0.539
Drinking Water Inspectorate for use with
Furthermore, cleaning and disinfection the supply of water for drinking, washing, 35 x 1.2 0.835
of water systems on a scheduled routine cooking or food production purposes.
basis is good engineering practice. It is a
42 x 1.2 1.232
They must therefore conform to the
statutory requirement to disinfect water specifications of either EN 900 for 54 x 1.2 2.091
systems in premises where water is Calcium Hypochlorite or EN 901 for
stored and used in a way that could
66.7 x 1.2 3.247
Sodium Hypochlorite.
Sodium hypochlorite concentration 76 x 1.5 4.197
*Specification for "Design, installation, testing and
maintenance of services supplying water for domestic use Sodium hypochlorite solution (household 108 x 1.5 8.659
within buildings and their curtilages". strength bleach) contains 5% available
 The volume of a mains-fed system can
be found by totalling the lengths of the
different tube sizes and multiplying these
by the appropriate figure in the table,
then adding the volume of any hot water System discharge points
storage vessel.
Temporary supply

(type AA)
Procedure for gravity fed systems

Air gap
1. Thoroughly flush the system to
remove any flux residue, swarf or other
contaminants
2. Close all outlets, once the cistern is
full close the servicing valve on the Temporary
connection
supply
3. Assess the capacity of the cistern and
determine the quantity of disinfectant to
use
4. Add this to the water in the cistern Pump
and mix to give the initial strength of Check valve
50 ppm required Valved branch
5. Working away from the cistern, open Supply pipe
each draw-off fitting until disinfectant
solution is detected, then close the fitting
to progressively draw the solution
around the system
6. As chlorinated water is drawn off, it will
be necessary to add further measured
amounts of disinfectant to maintain the then start the pump to inject the simple colorimetric chemical test has
initial concentration up to the overflow disinfectant solution into the system been developed. The test procedure
level of the cistern during the filling 5. Working away from the temporary consists of filling a clear plastic tube with
process connection, open each draw-off fitting a sample of the water to be checked and
until disinfectant solution is detected then adding a tablet of indicator chemical.This
7. Once the entire system is full the
close the fitting to progressively draw the is shaken to dissolve the tablet and the
1-hour contact time can commence
solution around the system water must be examined to judge the
colour change to estimate the chlorine
6. As chlorinated water is drawn off, it
level.
Procedure for supply pipes, service will be necessary to add further
pipes and unvented hot water measured amounts of disinfectant to
systems maintain the initial concentration during Water colour Chlorine level
A small diameter plugged and valved the filling process ( ppm or mg/l)
branch needs to be fitted at the The 1-hour contact time will start
upstream end of the supply/service pipe when the entire system has been filled Clear None
during installation to facilitate disinfection. with water containing 50ppm chlorine.
Faint pink/pink 0.2 - 1
1. Thoroughly flush the system to Testing for residual chlorine Pink/red 1- 5
remove any flux residue, swarf or other If the free residual chlorine measures
contaminants, then close all outlets and less than 30ppm at the end of the 1-hour Red/purple 5 - 10
the servicing valve on the supply contact period, it will be necessary to
Purple/blue 10 - 20
2. Using the valved branch, connect a repeat the process as required by
suitable pump, check valve and the BS 6700. How can we know what the Blue/grey-green 20 - 30
storage cistern outlet to the installation, residual chlorine level is?
(see diagram) Grey-green/
People with a normal sense of smell yellow 30 - 50
3. Determine the capacity of the might just be able to detect the smell of
system and the quantity of disinfectant to Muddy brown Over 50
the normal level of chlorine present in
use ordinary tap water (<1ppm), and they Colour develops
4. Add this quantity of water to the should easily detect the smell formed by and then goes
cistern and add disinfectant to give the a residual chlorine level of 30ppm. This clear Excessive
initial strength of 50 ppm required, mix isn’t very scientific however, and so a
Completion of the disinfection Disinfection Do’s and Don’ts Commissioning heating
process system pipework
It is vital to thoroughly drain and then ● Do take care to warn people before It is important to thoroughly flush every
flush out all the disinfectant once the starting, and handle chemicals with care - heating system as soon as possible after
1 hour contact period is complete. they are dangerous installation. Fill and vent the system with
Flushing should continue until the cold water and check all connections
level of free residual chlorine is ● Do calculate the amount of for leaks before draining. Refill and
equal to the level present in the chemicals to use accurately - using too commission the boiler and heat up the
drinking water supplied. much will not produce better results system. Leaks can be found at this stage,
(sometimes due to heat melting grease
If the chlorinated water remains in ● Do use chlorinated water to based fluxes) so check again before
contact with the tube, the system will be replenish the storage cistern up to the draining the system whilst still hot. By
damaged because the chlorine will react overflow level - to keep the disinfection following these key steps, you will be able
with the copper to eventually form concentration correct to develop a system with a long and
insoluble cuprous chloride, which can trouble free service life.
continue to attack the tube. ● Don’t leave the chlorinated water in
the system longer than 1 hour and
Chlorine neutralising chemical NEVER overnight
Where it is necessary to remove chlorine
before the system water is discharged ● Do check for residual chlorine at the
into a drain or water course, a end of the contact period - to ensure an
neutraliser chemical (for example effective disinfection
Sodium Thiosulphate) can be added at
the rate of: System volume (m3) x ppm ● Don’t discharge highly chlorinated
(mg/l) chlorine x 2 = No. of grams water into a drain or into a watercourse
required. without first notifying the Water
Authority or the Environment Agency.
Cisterns and components with It is highly toxic to fish and other aquatic
internal coatings organisms
Take care to check whether any
coatings have been applied to the inside ● Do leave systems full and flush
of the storage cistern. High chlorine through regularly with fresh water as
concentrations can adversely affect new it is virtually impossible to effect a
coatings and release chemicals into the 100% drain-down of systems. It is
water, so it is necessary to ensure that recommended that systems which are
enough time has passed to allow not coming into immediate use be left full
complete curing of any internal coating and flushed through at regular intervals
before disinfection is carried out. (by opening-up all terminal connections)
in order to periodically introduce fresh
water into the system and thereby
enhance protective scale formation
within the pipework

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