How long should potable water fittings be soaked?

The soaking of potable water fittings in Calcium hypochlorite is an important step for disinfection before they are put into service. This process helps to ensure that any harmful bacteria or pathogens are eliminated, making the water safe for consumption.

Soaking fittings for 5 minutes in Calcium hypochlorite strikes a balance between effective disinfection and practicality. This duration allows enough contact time for the disinfectant to work adequately, ensuring that contaminants are effectively killed without leading to potential degradation of the materials used in the fittings or unnecessary waste of chemicals. It is a standard practice that has been established to ensure maximum efficacy while being safe for the material.

The other options, while close, do not provide the optimal soaking time for effective disinfection. Soaking for anything shorter may not allow sufficient time for disinfection to take place, while longer soaking times can lead to issues such as material fatigue or unnecessary over-exposure to the chemical disinfectant. Therefore, the 5-minute duration is regarded as the correct and recommended time for soaking potable water fittings in Calcium hypochlorite.