Protocol for flushing water lines
Noel Brandon Kelsch, RDH, RDHAP, MS
There is a lot of information in the news on water lines in the dental setting because of outbreaks of diseases associated with contaminated water from the dental unit. Over the next three issues of RDH, we will be looking at preventive measures for reduction of bacteria in dental water lines and assurance of compliance. This month, we will learn about standards and flushing lines. Next month, we will learn about testing lines, and finally, we will learn about shocking the lines.
It is very clear that water lines in the dental setting need to be maintained and tested for bacterial levels. All water in the dental unit must contain fewer than 500 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL); some unit instructions for use (IFU) state as low as 200 CFU/mL. You should always go with the lowest number. It is important to read your unit’s individual IFU and follow any directions that accompany it. The units that we use in the dental setting are governed by the FDA. Following the IFU that accompanies your unit is not a question for debate. It is a federal law.
Flushing lines
The water itself is governed by the EPA, which states that the water must meet the nationally recognized standards set by the EPA for drinking water (fewer than 500 CFU/mL for heterotrophic plate count) for routine dental treatment output water. If the IFU states 200 CFU/mL, you should go with the lower number as your standard. Surgical procedures require sterile water.