Finding building water quality challenges in a 7 year old green school: implications for building design, sampling, and remediation

Ra, Kyungyeon; Odimayomi, Tolulope; Ley, Christian; Aw, Tiong Gim; Rose, Joan B.; Whelton, Andrew J.

doi:10.1039/d0ew00520g

Cited by 15 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Analysis of the number of hours the fixture was stagnant (according to recorded uses) versus copper concentration (SI-D Fig in S1 File) did not indicate a strictly linear trend between copper and stagnation; fixture location and overall use in the week likely had a combined effect with stagnation. Elevated copper levels have been found in similar commercial buildings [7,19,20]. Lead levels found at the POE always exceeded 1 μg/L, but not 5 μg/L.…”

Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Exceedances of the (acute) health-based drinking water limit for copper were found in one of the three risers, including at bathroom sinks, water fountains and kitchen sinks. Interestingly, another building that received water from the same PWS was found to also have copper exceedances (maximum 2.72 mg/L) (7). In that school building, copper levels consistently exceeded the 1.3 mg/L health-based drinking water exposure limit during the summer months (70% of samples) and even when school was in session (37% of samples) throughout the entire building.…”

Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 89%

“…al. (2020) [7]. In total, approximately 2 L of water was collected during each sampling event, with sequential collection for each parameter.…”

Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amongst other goals, green buildings' plumbing is designed by using water efficient fixtures and alternative water supplies. Over the past decade however, some green buildings have been associated with drinking water safety issues [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Many office buildings have consistently decreased occupancy during weekends and holidays, which regularly increases water residence time in plumbing [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Over the weekend: Water stagnation and contaminant exceedances in a green office building

Montagnino

Proctor

et al. 2022

PLOS Water

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The role of water stagnation (~60 hours) in a 2-story commercial office building on building water quality was studied (January to February 2020) for three weekends. Chemical and biological parameters including pH, total chlorine, metals concentrations, Legionella spp. and total cell count were analyzed to understand the differences in water quality at the building entry point, and at eleven fixtures within the building’s copper plumbing. Consistently, the total chlorine concentration decreased over the weekend (p < 0.05), was greatest at the building entry point (maximum 0.8 mg/L), and was lowest within the plumbing (maximum 0.28 mg/L). As expected, total cell count levels were much greater on Monday compared to Friday (p < 0.05) at every sampling point. Legionella spp. was found to be highest at the fixture with no use recorded during sampling. Throughout the building, copper and lead levels increased over the weekend (p < 0.05). Copper exceedances above the federal health-based drinking water limit (1.3 mg/L) were localized to four fixtures, branched from the same riser, that shared a pattern of variable use. Flushing was conducted at one location with consistent copper exceedances but 54 minutes were required to reach the public water supply. Flushing was not a viable copper remediation method as it would need to be repeated every 19 hours or require discarding more than 50 gallons before use. No prior water testing was conducted in the buildings’ life. The results suggest that water quality varies significantly over the week. This has implications for water testing plans and interpretation of data collected from buildings.

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Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 89%

“…al. (2020) [7]. In total, approximately 2 L of water was collected during each sampling event, with sequential collection for each parameter.…”

Section: Plos Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Over the weekend: Water stagnation and contaminant exceedances in a green office building

Montagnino

Proctor

et al. 2022

PLOS Water

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“…Aside from the recent guidance documents for reopening after prolonged inactivity, there are also several guidance documents detailing the importance of flushing or a building water management plan as a control measure specifically for Legionella (Bartram et al, 2007 ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021a ; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2017 ; Department of Veterans Affairs, 2014 ; European Guidelines Working Group, 2019 ). Considering the guidance documents and published research available (Dore et al, 2018 ; Hozalski et al, 2020 ; Lipphaus et al, 2014 ; Ra et al, 2020 ; Singh et al, 2020 ; Whiley et al, 2019 ; Zhu et al, 2014 ), it is still difficult to assess if remedial flushing is successful for buildings that have sustained long terms of inactivity or prolonged shutdown because of the gap in knowledge to test effectiveness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre‐ and post‐flushing of three schools in Arizona due to COVID‐19 shutdown

Richard

Boyer

2021

AWWA Water Science

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A one-day water sampling and flushing study was conducted for three schools in Maricopa County that experienced prolonged building inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic: an elementary school, middle school, and high school. Grab samples were taken at hand washing sinks, water fountains, and hose bibbs before and after flushing. Samples were analyzed for free chlorine, UVA254, copper, lead, total trihalomethanes, pH, conductivity, temperature, and Legionella species. All three schools experienced an increase in free chlorine post-flush. Copper concentrations were higher for first draw samples than post-flush samples for all schools. Conductivity, temperature, and pH did not see a major change after flushing. UVA254 values decreased after flushing.Bromoform species saw a 20% increase after flushing at the elementary school. Legionella spp. did not decrease post-flush at the elementary school. Overall, flushing changed the water quality at the schools. However, equipment flushing may be necessary to fully remediate Legionella spp.

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School and childcare center drinking water: Copper chemistry, health effects, occurrence, and remediation

et al. 2022

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The study goal was to better understand the risks of elevated copper levels at US schools and childcare centers. Copper health effects, chemistry, occurrence, and remediation actions were reviewed. Of the more than 98,000 schools and 500,000 childcare centers, only 0.2% had copper water testing data in the federal Safe Drinking Water Information System database. Of the facilities designated public water systems, about 13% had reported an exceedance. Schools that were not designated a public water system (PWS) also had exceedances. Few studies document levels in schools and childcare centers. Widely different sampling and remedial actions were reported. Flushing contaminated water was the most evaluated remedial action but was unreliable because copper quickly rebounded when flushing stopped. Building water treatment systems have been used, but some were not capable of making the water safe. The health risk was difficult to determine due to the limited occurrence data and lack of best management practice studies. A national drinking water testing campaign and field studies are recommended.

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Finding building water quality challenges in a 7 year old green school: implications for building design, sampling, and remediation

Abstract: Water safety was investigated at a school certified as a green building. The study was conducted during low water use (summer break) to normal water use (after break) periods. The...

Cited by 15 publications

References 30 publications

Over the weekend: Water stagnation and contaminant exceedances in a green office building

Over the weekend: Water stagnation and contaminant exceedances in a green office building

Pre‐ and post‐flushing of three schools in Arizona due to COVID‐19 shutdown

School and childcare center drinking water: Copper chemistry, health effects, occurrence, and remediation

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