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Best

DistributionSystemCleaning/
UnidirectionalFlushing
MinistryofHealthServices

Developedby

BCWWA
for
October,2004

Practices

Management
Page 2

BestManagementPractices
DistributionSystemCleaning/UnidirectionalFlushing
BESTMANAGEMENTPRACTICES:DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEMCLEANING/UNIDIRECTIONALFLUSHING

Yourwaterdistributionsystemwhetherlargeorsmall
requiresregularcleaningtoguaranteeyourcustomers
havesafe,aestheticallypleasingwater.Itsimportant,
therefore,tounderstandwaterqualitydegradationandto
developappropriateresponsestrategies.

Whatiswaterdistribution

systemcleaning?
AsexplainedinWaterQualityinDistribution
Systems:ABestPracticebytheNationalGuideto
SustainableMunicipalInfrastructure,distribution
systemcleaningisanyprogram,technology,process,
operatingmethodormanagementpracticethatreduces
orpreventswaterqualitydegradationinawater
systemorreceivingenvironment.Theseinclude
flushing,swabbing,andpiggingtoremovebiofilms,
sediment,andcorrosionbyproductsfromwatermain
interiors,whichgenerallyimproveswaterqualityand
hydrauliccapacity.
Pipesshouldbeflushedspringand/orfallto
maintainwaterquality,maximizehydrauliccapacity,
andremovestagnantwateratdeadends,andin
responsetononcompliantsamplesorcustomer
complaints.Theguiderecommendsunidirectional
flushing,whichisolatespipesectionsorloopsinan
organized,sequentialmanner,typicallyfromsource
toperiphery.Flowvelocitiesshouldreach1.5to2.0
m/s.Whilemorecostlyandtimeconsumingthan
conventionalflushing,unidirectionalflushingismore
effectiveanduseslesswater.
Insomecases(e.g.inmainslargerthan300mm),
itmaybeimpossibletoachievetheflowvelocities
requiredtoadequatelyscourthepipes.Swabbing
withsoftfoamswabsorpiggingwithwirebrushes,
scrapersorrigidplasticpigscanthenbeusedto
cleanmains.Althoughpiggingismoreeffective
thanflushingorswabbing,itrequiresconsiderable
expertise,materials,andtime.
Asstatedintheguide,Waterqualitycomplaints
shouldbemonitoredgeographically.Allmunicipalities
shouldusesometypeofdatamanagementsystemto
trackthesewaterqualitycomplaintstooptimizetheir
flushingprogram.Largermunicipalities(andsmaller

InformationLinks

WaterQualityinDistributionSystems:ABest
PracticebytheNationalGuidetoSustainable
MunicipalInfrastructure
(PDFFile)

municipalitieswithsignificantwaterqualityproblems)
shoulduseaGISsystemtotrackcomplaintsand
analyzemonitoringdata.
Computermodelscanbeusedtosimulatethe
waterageanddisinfectantresidualsthroughouta
distributionsystem.Thisinformationcanthenbe
usedtoidentifytheareasthatrequiremorefrequent
flushing.Computermodelscanalsobeusedtoidentify

flushingsequences(basedontheunidirectional
flushingmethod)andtheexpectedflushingvelocity
foreachsectionofthewatermain.

WhyshouldBMPsbeapplied
todistributionsystemcleaning/
unidirectionalflushing?
AdistributionsystemcleaningprogramthatreflectsBMPs:
increasesprotectionofpotablewatersupply;
reducesrisktopublichealth;
improvesaestheticsofwater;
ensurescompliancewithoperatingpermits;
reducesdisinfectiondemand;
improveshydrauliccapacity;
improveschlorineresiduals;
reducessedimentation/turbidity;
reducesregrowth/biofilm;
improveshydrantefficiency;and
reducesoperationalcosts.
Adistributionsystemcleaningprogramthat
reflectsBMPSalsohelpsbuildconsistency
throughouttheprovince.

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BESTMANAGEMENTPRACTICES:DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEMCLEANING/UNIDIRECTIONALFLUSHING

WhatBMPsshouldbeappliedtosmallsystems?
WhatBMPsshouldbeappliedtolargersystems?
Smallwatersystems(e.g.thoseservicingatrailerparkorsubdivision)canimplementadistributionsystem
cleaningprogramthatincludesthefollowingsteps:
UnidirectionalFlushing
1.Researchothersuccessfulunidirectionalflushing(UDF)
programsimplementedbyothersmallsystems.
2.Monitorwaterdistributionsystemqualityregularly(e.g.
chlorineresiduals,turbidity,totalcoliforms).
3.Reviewexistingsystemforlocationofflushoutlocations
andinstallnewoneswherenecessary.
4.Reviewdrainageanddechlorinationrequirements(e.g.
dechlorinateallwatersthatmayenterawatercourse).
5.DevelopaUDFprogramthatincludeshydrantmaintenance
andvalveexercising(preparemaps,recordforms,
emergencyresponses,etc.).
6.Obtain(purchase,rent,orborrow)thenecessaryequipment
(e.g.flowgauge,energydissipater,turbiditymeter).
7.Notifycustomersinadvanceofpossibleimpacts,duration,etc.
8.Notifyfiredepartment(ifapplicable)ofreductioninfireflow.

9.BeginUDFprogrambycleaningyourreservoir(ifapplicable).
10.ConductUDFprogrameverysixmonthstothreeyears
unlessotherwiseadvisedbyyourDrinkingWaterOfficer
(forseasonalsystemsconductatthestartofeachseason).
11.Conductpostflushingwaterqualitymonitoring.
12.Documentresultsandupdaterecordsandprocedures.
SpotFlushing
1.Spotflushwatersystematalldeadendsandotherlocationsinresponsetolowchlorineresiduals,failed
bacteriologicaltests,orcustomercomplaints
Swabbing/Pigging
1.IfyouhavepipesthatcannotbecleanedbyUDF,contactaqualifiedprofessionaltoreviewtherisks,
benefits,andcostsofswabbingorpigging
1.ConductInitialResearch
ConsultwithDrinkingWaterOfficer(DWO)
ConsultwithfederalDepartmentofFisheries
andOceansandprovincialMinistryofWater,
LandandAirProtectionregardingdischarges
ResearchmaterialsfromAWWA,BCWWA,
andCSA
Researchsuccessfuldistributioncleaning
programsinothercommunities
Conductbenefitanalysisofvariousoptions
(unidirectionalflushingvs.pigging)
2.BuildProgramFramework
Identifyobjectivesandtargets
Identifymanpower/trainingrequirements
andresources
Identifyequipmentneeds
Outlineasystematicapproach(e.g.uni
directionalflushingwithspotflushingfor
waterqualityincidents)
Preparebudget
Setscheduleaccordingtolocalconditions
Preparebusinessplan
Evaluateandrefineplan(ongoing)
3.GarnerSupportandFunding
Presentbusinessplantoseniorstaffand
councilorboard(includeregulatory

Ifyouneedhelp
SmallSystems
CoastalWater
SuppliersAssociation
PaulineBerkman
2503387796
pauline@rid.bc.ca
SmallWater
UsersAssociation
DennyRossSmith
2502292262

smallwaterusers@shaw.ca
WaterSupply
AssociationofBC
BruceWilson
2507655218
bruce@rutlandwaterworks.com

Page 4
BESTMANAGEMENTPRACTICES:DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEMCLEANING/UNIDIRECTIONALFLUSHING

requirements/recommendations,recommendedapproach,
andfundingrequirements)
Providefrequentupdates(ongoing)
4.DevelopTechnicalPlan
Considerregulatoryrequirements(e.g.healthauthority,
DFO,MWLAP,localjurisdictions)
Communicatewithregulatoryagencies
Developapproach(e.g.byareaortotalsystem)
Determinesequence(e.g.reservoir,pumpstations,wet
wells,watermains)
Identifypotentialchallenges(e.g.specificlocations,pipetypes)
Utilizeavailabletoolstohelpdevelopplan(e.g.
computermodel)
Developpoliciesandprocedures(e.g.flowand
velocity,sequence)
Settimeline
5.DevelopWaterDischargePlan
Incorporateregulatoryrequirements
6.CreateCommunicationsPlanandMaterials
Identifyinternalandexternalaudiencesspecific
communicationneeds
Prepareawrittenplan,includingemergencyresponse
procedures
Educateallappropriatestaffaboutunidirectional
flushing,spotflushing,andpigging/swabbing
Preparestaffforincomingcallsduringflushing(e.g.
increasedturbidity)
Access/prepareinformationandeducationmaterialsfor
externalaudiences,ifappropriate
Educateexternalaudiences,ifappropriate
Evaluateandrefineplan(ongoing)
7.ImplementProgram
Notifyallpersonnelinvolvedandconductfieldorientation
Communicateprogramtocustomers(e.g.mailout,
website,newspaper,signs)
Conductpreflushingtests(e.g.pressure,pH,turbidity)
Increasedisinfectionconcentrationsbeforeandduringflushing
Coordinatedemandandunidirectionalflushing
Coordinateschedulewithfiredepartment
Undertakecleaning(e.g.reservoir,pumpstations,wetwells,watermains)

Conductpostflushingtesting
8.RecordandReportFlushingData
Preparefieldrecords(e.g.dates,times)
Updateasconstructed(e.g.drawings)
Reportmaintenanceissues
Prepareannualtrendsthatdemonstratehealthofsystem
Forwardgeneralinfotohealthauthority(e.g.systemwithdata),uponrequest
Evaluateandupdateprocedures

Ifyouneedhelp
LargeSystems

FernandoKing
CityofSurrey
6045907224
frking@city.surrey.bc.ca
DougMacQuarrie
GreaterVancouverRegionalDistrict
6044516616
Doug.Macquarrie@gvrd.bc.ca
DonMiller
FraserHealth
6045722600
don.miller@fraserhealth.ca
LenStein
CityofAbbotsford
6048535485
lstein@city.abby.bc.ca
GrantTesar
CityofBurnaby
6042947474
tesar@city.burnaby.bc.ca
AdrianWeaden
CityofKelowna
2508625510(244)
aweadon@city.kelowna.bc.ca
JanvanNiekerk
CapitalRegionalDistrict
2504749611
jvanniekerk@crd.bc.ca

Page 5

RecommendedReading
UnidirectionalFlushingVHSorDVD
Edition,2002
AmericanWaterWorksAssociation
(3037947711)www.awwa.org
InvestigationofPipeCleaningMethods
AmericanWaterWorksAssociationNo.90938

(3037947711)www.awwa.org
InternalCorrosionofWater
DistributionSystems
AmericanWaterWorksAssociationNo.90508
(3037947711)www.awwa.org
EstablishingSiteSpecificFlushingVelocities
AWWAResearchFoundationNo.90964F
(3037947711)www.awwa.org
BESTMANAGEMENTPRACTICES:DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEMCLEANING/UNIDIRECTIONALFLUSHING