LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REFERENCE GUIDE
TITLE:
Daily Flushing Requirements for Non-Refrigerated
Drinking Fountains
ROUTING
All Schools and Offices
NUMBER:
REF-3930.1
ISSUER:
Yi Hwa Kim, Interim Director
Office of Environmental Health and Safety
DATE:
May 9, 2008
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Reference Guide is to provide guidelines for reducing lead in
drinking water by requiring daily flushing of non-refrigerated water fixtures.
MAJOR
CHANGES:
This Reference Guide replaces REF-3930.0 (revised September 17, 2007) Daily
Flushing Requirements For Non-Refrigerated Drinking Fountains. Schools, offices
or other facilities constructed during or after 2002 will not be required to flush and
are exempt from daily flushing of drinking fountains, faucets or other potable water
sources. Attachment B has been added to document flushing of potable water
sources inside of classrooms, workrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, the Health Office
or other areas with potable water sources. Attachment C has been added for
submission by administrators to certify monthly flushing of all potable water
sources.
INSTRUCTIONS:
INTRODUCTION
Water that remains stationary within standard piping for extended periods of
time can leach lead out of pipes joined with lead-containing solder as well as
some brass fixtures or galvanized pipes. Flushing these fixtures has been
found to be an effective means of reducing lead levels below the Action
Level (AL) set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Refrigerated
drinking water fountains have been previously retrofitted and do not require
daily flushing. Based on past studies of non-refrigerated drinking water
fountains, all drinking water and food service faucets must be flushed for a
minimum of 30 seconds prior to the first use each day. Schools, offices and
other facilities constructed during or after 2002 are exempt from flushing
requirements.
I.
FLUSHING PROCEDURES
A. All fixtures and fountains that may be used for consumption of water or
used for food preparation shall be flushed for a minimum of 30 seconds
prior to the first use of the day as outlined below. Those responsible for
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Office of Environmental Health and Safety
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LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REFERENCE GUIDE
flushing fixtures shall note on the daily log if the fixture is inoperative,
the water is discolored or has an odor after completion of flushing. Any
deficiencies shall be reported immediately to the Plant Manager, who will
place a service call to the Maintenance and Operations Service Call Desk.
II.
RESPONSIBILITIES
A. The Local District Superintendent shall ensure that all Site
Administrators comply with this policy, including proper training for
those responsible for flushing, and establishing schedules that allow for
flushing to be completed prior to the first use of the day. The Local
District Superintendent shall also ensure that the Local District Facilities
Director establishes an inspection and compliance program through the
Area Operations Supervisors.
B. The Site Administrator shall ensure that flushing of fixtures occurs every
day prior to first use. The Administrator shall also certify on a monthly
basis that the flushing was completed in accordance with this policy, and
retain signed logs for three years for inspection or review.
C. The Plant Manager or custodial staff shall flush all non-refrigerated
drinking water fountains in common areas. Drinking fountains with
multiple fixtures require flushing of each fixture. The Daily Drinking
Water Flushing Log (Attachment A) shall be completed each day and the
log for the current month maintained in the Plant Manager’s Office.
D. Teachers, coaches and other personnel with potable water fixtures located
inside of their classrooms including gymnasiums, locker rooms, and
science laboratories shall flush the drinking water fixtures each day and
maintain the Daily Flushing Log for Individual Fixtures (Attachment B).
E. The School Nurse shall flush drinking fountains and faucets located
inside the Health Office and maintain the Daily Flushing Log for
Individual Fixtures (Attachment B).
F. The Cafeteria Manager shall flush drinking fountains and kitchen faucets
used for food preparation including any fixtures used for hot or cold
beverage water and maintain the Daily Flushing Log for Individual
Fixtures (Attachment B).
G. At the end of each month the Plant Manager, School Nurse, Cafeteria
Manager, Teacher or other persons responsible for flushing individual
fountains in a specific area will give completed Attachment B forms to
the Site Administrator.
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REFERENCE GUIDE
H. On the 15th of each month, the Site Administrator must sign and date
Attachment C for the previous month and fax Attachments A & C to the
Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) at 213-241-6816.
I. Completed Attachments A, B, and C shall be kept on file at the school for
three years for inspection or review.
J. To ensure compliance with the flushing procedures and to evaluate the
effectiveness of the flushing policy, random water sampling and testing
of all schools will be conducted by the Office of Environmental Health &
Safety (OEHS). Laboratory results will be provided to the Site
Administrator who may provide this information to employees, parents or
other interested parties if requested. OEHS will review monthly flushing
logs from each school and notify sites that are not compliant to submit
Attachment A or C.
RELATED
RESOURCES:
For water quality questions, call the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power at
(800) 342-5397 or visit their website at:
http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp000505.jsp
EPA. 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools.
http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/schools/guidance.html
ASSISTANCE:
For assistance or further information please contact the Office of Environmental
Health and Safety (OEHS) 213-241-3199, or visit the OEHS website at:
http://www.lausd-oehs.org
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Office of Environmental Health and Safety
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May 9, 2008
ATTACHMENT A
Daily Drinking Water Flushing Log
Name of School:
Month/Year: ____________________
Address of School: ___________________________________________________
Location Code: __________________
Date
Each Fixture
Flushed (Y, N)
Location of Problem Fixtures
(inoperative, odors, discolored or complaints)
Plant Manager’s Signature
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Note: All non-refrigerated drinking fountains and cafeteria kitchen faucets used for food/beverage preparation shall be flushed for a
minimum of 30 seconds prior to the first use every day. It is the responsibility of the school’s Principal or the Site Administrator to ensure
that this log is kept up to date and copies are kept on file at all times.
ATTACHMENT B
Daily Flushing Log for Individual Fixtures
Name of School:
Month/Year: ____________________
Location of fountain or fixture: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Date
Fixture flushed
Y, N
Note if fixture is inoperative or the water is discolored
or has odors
Print Name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Note: All non-refrigerated drinking fountains and cafeteria kitchen faucets used for food/beverage preparation shall be flushed for a
minimum of 30 seconds prior to the first use every day. It is the responsibility of the school’s Principal or the Site Administrator to ensure
that this log is kept up to date and copies are kept on file at all times.
ATTACHMENT C
Administrators Monthly Certification
of Drinking Water Fixture Flushing
On the 15th of each month, the facility administrator must fax this certification statement and the Attachment
A for their facility to the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at 213-241-6816. For all questions about
these procedures call 213-241-3199.
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
Date: __________________________________
School: ____________________________________________________ Location Code: _______________
I certify that the flushing logs (Attachments A & B) for the month of ________________________________
___________ (year) have been completed for each school day.
_____________________________________________________
Print name of Site Administrator
_____________________________________________________
Signature
c: Attachment A