Which of the following is not a typical step in the disinfecting process for a new water main?

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Disinfecting a new water main relies on a chemical disinfection approach paired with flushing to ensure the interior is clean and safe. The process starts with pre-flushing to remove loose sediment and debris that could interfere with disinfection. Then chlorine-based disinfection is applied to provide the necessary disinfectant concentration and contact time to inactivate pathogens throughout the pipe. After the disinfection phase, final flushing pushes the disinfectant through the system and clears out any residual chlorine and loosened debris, so the water quality meets acceptable standards before normal service resumes. Thermal sterilization isn’t used here because heating large-scale distribution mains is impractical and costly, can stress or damage pipe materials, and doesn’t reliably establish a safe, lasting disinfectant residual across the network. Chemical disinfection with flushing steps is the standard, efficient way to ensure a newly installed main is safe for supply.