In an 8-story apartment building with issues of discolored water post-water main break, what should the response to flushing be?

Establishing flushing protocols for all apartments is the most effective response in this scenario. When an 8-story apartment building experiences discolored water post-water main break, it suggests potential contamination or sediment disturbance throughout the plumbing system. Flushing all apartments ensures that any contaminants, discoloration, or sediment are removed from the entire network of pipes, rather than just isolated areas.

Implementing comprehensive flushing protocols helps ensure the health and safety of all residents by promoting the delivery of clean, safe water throughout the building. This is essential because contaminants can be distributed throughout the system, and relying only on flushing certain affected apartments may leave others at risk of exposure.

In contrast, the other options do not adequately address the broader risk. Relying solely on point-of-use water heaters might not eliminate the potential for contaminated water to be present in the plumbing system, as these heaters do not treat all water within the building. Installing water filters could provide some level of filtration but does not address the immediate concern of flushing contaminated water out of the system. Moreover, limiting flushing to only the affected apartments does not guarantee that the entire system is free from contamination, possibly leaving other residents vulnerable. Thus, establishing thorough flushing protocols for every apartment is the most effective and comprehensive approach.