Flushing your home plumbing

We tell you how to flush your home plumbing after your lead service line is replaced.

Flush your plumbing after your lead service line is replaced

Replacing a lead service line can disturb lead particles and debris. There are some steps you should take before using ANY water. This includes using water from filtering devices such as your refrigerator.

  • Turn off all ice makers and dump out all ice.
  • Flush your home plumbing and clean debris from aerators.
  • Complete a flush of your household plumbing.

Flush every 2 weeks for 3 months following the replacement of your service line. You will use less than $4 worth of water during a flush.

Boiling water does not remove lead. Use only cold water and run it for a few minutes before using it for:

  • drinking
  • cooking
  • making baby formula

Ways to keep your water lines flushed

To bring fresh water to your tap for drinking, you can run the faucet for a couple of minutes or use water elsewhere in your house. These actions will use up the water that has been sitting in your household plumbing for an extended time:

  • take a shower
  • do laundry
  • wash dishes
  • flush toilets
  • run the faucet

Clean debris from aerators once a month for six months. After six months, clean aerators twice a year.

Consider replacing any household water filters, such as:

  • refrigerator filters
  • reverse osmosis pre-filter cartridges
  • faucet filters
A person washing food in a sink under running water.
An example of a faucet aerator.
An example of a fridge filter.
An example of a fridge filter inside a fridge.

Contact us

Public Works Water Treatment & Distribution Services

Phone

For water emergencies

612-673-5600

For water quality information

612-661-4999

Address

4300 Marshall St. NE
Fridley, MN 55421

This building is closed to the public.

Lead service line questions

Public Works Water Treatment & Distribution Services

Phone

612-673-5600

Hours

8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday - Friday