Automatic, volumetric flushing apparatus for reducing contaminants in a plumbing system

A volumetric flushing system for flushing contaminants from a plumbing system, the plumbing system being configured during a usage event to deliver water from an exterior water inlet to one of a plurality of taps through a corresponding one of a plurality of standing volumes of the plumbing system, the standing volumes remaining filled with water between usage events of the corresponding taps, the system comprising:

• at least one controller;
• at least one timer configured to measure elapsed time;
• for each of the plurality of taps, a valve proximal to and in flow communication with the tap, the valve being configured under control of the at least one controller to switch between a delivery mode wherein the standing volume corresponding to the tap is connected to the tap and a flushing mode wherein the standing volume corresponding to the tap is connected to a bypass outlet;
• and
• at least one volumetric flow sensor in communication with the at least one controller and configured to measure a volume of water flowing through the standing volumes to the valves that are proximal to the taps;
• for each of the taps, the at least one controller being configured to initiate a purge of the standing volume corresponding to the tap before delivering water to the tap if the water in the standing volume corresponding to the tap is deemed by the controller to potentially contain contaminated water, where contaminated water refers to water containing more than a designated maximum level of contaminants, the purge of the standing volume that corresponds to the tap including switching of the valve that is proximal to the tap to its flushing mode until a purging volume of water applicable to the tap has flowed from the standing volume into the bypass outlet corresponding to the tap, and has been replaced by uncontaminated water from the exterior water inlet;
• for each of the taps, the at least one controller being configured to monitor usage flow volumes of water to the tap during usage events of the tap, and to designate a usage event of the tap as a purge event of the tap if the usage flow volume of the usage event is greater than the purging volume applicable to the tap.