NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

September 22, 2026

CUSTODIAL CIRCULAR NO. 27.001

NOTE: All Circulars are to be kept in a permanent file.
TO ALL CUSTODIAN ENGINEERS

THIS CIRCULAR SUPERSEDES CUSTODIAL CIRCULAR NO. 2 – 2021/22 AND ALL OTHER DIRECTIVES CONCERNING WATER FLUSHING

Water Flushing Protocol

On September 17, 2026, the New York City Health Department and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) announced new measures, backed by a $5 million initial investment from the City, to make water in New York City Public Schools safer. By increasing lead testing rates and water flushing rates, and taking new steps to protect drinking water, these efforts will help further reduce the risk that students are exposed to high levels of lead in drinking water.

This circular establishes the requirements by which Custodian Engineers are to execute these measures. It adds a second weekly flush day and revises the weekly recording schedule. The flushing procedures set forth in Section 2 remain unchanged.

1. Flushing Schedule: Second Weekly Flush Day Added

Effective Wednesday, September 23, 2026, all buildings are required to flush twice per week.

• First weekly flush: All water outlets used for drinking or food preparation must be flushed prior to student and staff arrival any time water may have been stagnant for a long period of time (i.e., after weekends, holidays, or extended breaks). This requirement is unchanged.
• Wednesday flush: new. Existing protocol, same outlets. If school is closed Wednesday, flush on
• the next day school is open.

All flushing is to be completed prior to student and staff arrival.

2. Flushing Protocol (No Change)

Flush each of the following outlets individually: drinking water fountains, bottle fillers, kitchen and food preparation sinks, and medical office sinks. The required flushing time varies according to the type of outlet being cleared:

• Clear the building lines first. Locate the faucet furthest away from the service line on each wing and floor of the building, open the faucet wide and let the water run for at least 10 minutes.
• Open valves at all drinking water fountains without refrigeration units and let the water run for 30 seconds to one minute, or until cold.
• Let the water run on all refrigerated water fountains for 15 minutes.
• Open all kitchen faucets, and other faucets where water will be used for drinking or cooking and let the water run for 30 seconds to one minute, or until cold.

Custodian Engineers should not flush too many outlets at once. If the flow from outlets is reduced noticeably during flushing, too many outlets have likely been turned on at once.

Lead and sediment can build up on individual faucet screens. Periodically remove faucet strainers or screens, clean them, run the cold-water tap for 3 to 5 minutes, then reinstall the strainers or screens.

3. Documentation and Weekly Record

Custodian Engineers are required to document every flushing exercise, on both flush days, in both places identified below.

• Water Flush Log. Complete an entry for each flush day and keep the completed logs in the building’s School and Fire Safety Log water flushing section
• DSF Water Flushing Application. Record both the first weekly flush and the Wednesday flush. The application is available on the DSF SSO portal at Water Flushing Application. Submit one record per week covering the full prior week, both flush days, by the end of the day Tuesday. This replaces the current Wednesday record the first weekly record under this schedule covers the week of Monday, September 21, 2026, and is due Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

4. Time Reporting for the Wednesday Flush

The first weekly flush continues to be covered by the building’s 202 baseline allocation.

Wednesday flushing is funded separately and should not be charged against the building’s baseline allocation. Report Wednesday flushing time in ePay under emergency reimbursement code 202S, using the water flushing sub-code 202S-WF. This sub-code is to be used for Wednesday flushing time only.

All questions regarding this information are to be directed to the Deputy Director of Facilities.

File Link

PDF: Circular 27-001_Water Flushing Protocol (F)