Stagnant, or standing water can cause conditions that increase the risk for growth and spread of bacteria in building plumbing systems. When water is stagnant, hot water temperatures can decrease to the Legionella growth range (77–108°F, 25–42°C). Stagnant water can also lead to low or undetectable levels of chlorine, the disinfectant the City of Wilmington uses to prevent the growth of bacteria in the water distribution system.

To ensure the safety of your building water system and devices after a prolonged shutdown please follow these steps:

• Ensure your water heater is properly maintained and the temperature is correctly set
• Determine if your manufacturer recommends draining the water heater after a prolonged period of disuse. Ensure that all maintenance activities are carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions or by professionals.
• Make sure that your water heater is set to at least 120°F
• Higher temperatures can further reduce the risk of Legionella growth, but ensure that you take measures to prevent scalding if you water heater is set to greater than 130°F
• Flush your water system
• Flush hot and cold water through all points of use (e.g., showers, sink faucets)
• Flushing may need to occur in segments (e.g., floors or individual rooms) due to facility size and water pressure. The purpose of building flushing is to replace all water inside building piping with fresh water.
• Flush until the hot water reaches its maximum temperature
• Clean all decorative water features, such as fountains
• Be sure to follow any recommended manufacturer guidelines for cleaning
• Ensure that decorative water features are free of visible slime or biofilm
• After the water feature has been re-filled, measure disinfectant levels to ensure that the water is safe for use
• Ensure cooling towers are clean and well-maintained
• Ensure that cooling towers are maintained (including start-up and shut-down procedures) per manufacturer’s guidelines and industry best practices
• Ensure that the tower and basin are free of visible slime or biofilm before use
• If the tower appears well-maintained, perform an online disinfection procedure
• Guidance on disinfection procedures from the Cooling Technology Institute: http://www.cti.org/downloads/WTP-148.pdf
• Ensure safety equipment including fire sprinkler systems, eye wash stations, and safety showers are clean and well-maintained
• Regularly flush, clean, and disinfect these systems according to manufacturers’ specifications.

• Larger buildings such as hotels, health care facilities, or facilities with hot tubs require a more detailed plan and should develop a comprehensive water management program (WMP)

For more detailed information please refer to the CDC Guidance for Building Water Systems: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html

City Services and Programs that are Suspended Indefinitely

• Sheriff sales (Update: sheriff sales will resume Tuesday, October 13. Visit https://www.nccde.org/167/Sheriffs-Office for more information.)

• Water disconnections for delinquencies

• Neighborhood street cleaning that was to begin April 1 so residents, many of whom are working from home, do not have to move their vehicles to accommodate street cleaning equipment

• Special trash pickups

The City of Wilmington is asking residents to avoid flushing sanitation wipes even if the package states they are flushable. Other alternatives to toilet paper, including paper towels and facial tissues, also should not be flushed in local sewer lines as people practice guidelines to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While the flushable wipes concern is not new to wastewater facilities, there is an increased risk to our system due to the current shortage of toilet paper.

The City is working closely with Veolia North America, which operates and maintains the wastewater treatment plant, to educate people about the need to avoid flushing inappropriate items down their toilets.

We ask that our community members pay extra attention to what items they are using and flushing and remind you not to flush anything other than toilet paper, whether being used for personal hygiene purposes or for wiping and cleaning surfaces. Although many so-called disposable hand wipes are advertised as being safe for flushing, in reality they can cause backups in the system and contribute to the buildup of foreign materials. In some cases, they can attach to buildups of grease in the system and create large blockages called fatbergs.

Here are some items that should not be flushed down sewer lines:

• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Wet wipes/baby wipes
• Facial tissues

As a general reminder, here are Dos and Don’ts for avoiding backups in the local sewer lines:

• DO NOT flush wipes, gloves, towels or other trash down the toilet, even if they’re labeled flushable.
• DO NOT pour grease down kitchen sinks or toilets. Instead, put grease in a sealed non-recyclable container and throw it out with regular garbage.
• DO NOT use the sink as a toilet or the toilet as a garbage disposal. DO reduce and reuse by using compostable or reusable makeup applicators, like cotton balls, and cleaning supplies, like paper towels or rags.
• DO toss dirty baby, makeup and cleaning wipes, tampons, sanitary pads and condoms in the trash.
• DO recycle finished toilet rolls, cardboard packaging from toothpaste and brushes, and plastic packaging from shampoos and shower gels.

Thank you for helping to keep our community and facilities clean and functioning.

WPD Request Regarding 911

The City’s daily distribution of meals to children and teenagers totals more than 30,000 meals so far at the following locations around the city:

Two respite locations for homeless individuals are open:

• at the parking lot of Sts. Andrew and Matthew on Orange Street between 7th and 8th Streets, and

• at the St. Patrick’s Center on 14th Street between King and French Streets