Anticipating the Effects of Green Buildings on Water Quality and Infrastructure

Abstract

Increased water age (i.e., water residence time) in distribution and premise‐plumbing systems resulting from the current green building revolution can compromise water quality and lead to numerous plumbing‐related issues, requiring a shared and proactive response from all stakeholders.

Distribution system water age can create premise plumbing corrosion hotspots

“…While rigorous lab and field data are lacking (Grigg 2010), there is a concern that implementation of water conservation and higher water ages may be creating hotspots of lead and copper corrosion in distribution systems Del Toral et al 2013, Rhoads et al 2015 that might influence childhood lead poisoning risks and selection of Bworst case^sites for monitoring Edwards 2014;U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2014).…”

“…Even as populations in many urban areas have increased, water efficiency and conservation initiatives have decreased water usage (and increased water age), resulting in increased corrosion problems in some water systems (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2002a, b;Rhoads et al 2015). While rigorous lab and field data are lacking (Grigg 2010), there is a concern that implementation of water conservation and higher water ages may be creating hotspots of lead and copper corrosion in distribution systems Del Toral et al 2013, Rhoads et al 2015 that might influence childhood lead poisoning risks and selection of Bworst case^sites for monitoring Edwards 2014;U.S.…”

“…These concerns are exacerbated at higher water age and can include disinfectant decay, nitrification, pipeline corrosion, biofilm formation, and microbial regrowth (Table 1). Water age is the residence time of water from the point of entry to the distribution system to the consumer's tap, with the total water age defined by the summation of the distribution system water age and premise plumbing water age (Rhoads et al 2015). In other words, water age means a longer time for chemical and biological reactions to occur which can be detrimental to water quality.…”

Experiences of Green Building Professionals With Water‐Related Systems

“…Another recent study confirmed that water age can cause plumbing corrosion (Masters et al 2015). Corrosion and pathogen growth associated with water age have also been demonstrated in a survey of green building water systems (Rhoads et al 2015b). A complete accounting of other literature about water quality issues that could potentially be influenced by green building practices can be found in the Water Research Foundation report of which this research was part (Rhoads et al 2015c), and a discussion and classification of the unanticipated consequences of these practices can be found in a resulting thesis (Chambers 2014).…”

“…Water‐efficient fixtures and onsite water storage methods such as cisterns can increase the residence time of water, particularly when pipes are sized with traditional fixtures in mind. A comparative analysis of refereed studies on potential water age impacts on green building water quality suggested that pathogen growth, pipe corrosion, and taste and odor issues could potentially be increased in these scenarios (Rhoads et al 2015a). Another recent study confirmed that water age can cause plumbing corrosion (Masters et al 2015).…”