Anticipating the Effects of Green Buildings on Water Quality and Infrastructure

Increased water age 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. The first critical link in this chain reaction is often the rapid loss of chloramine or chlorine residual. Many taste and odors-causing compounds originate in parts of the distribution system where microbial growth is increased or when water stagnates in prolonged contact with plumbing materials. Water agencies should identify factors that cause rapid disinfectant losses or installing individual premise-plumbing chlorine booster stations could dramatically reduce the likelihood of problems with microbial regrowth, taste and odors, and corrosion. For consumers who achieve partly or completely off-grid status with respect to their water supply, plumbing codes and regulations are needed to ensure safe plumbing design, installation, maintenance, and monitoring guidelines. Flushing is currently considered an adequate solution to lower the water age. Building owners and operators can reduce problems by responding to, diagnosing, documenting, remediating, and reporting problems. Furthermore, investigations into water chemistry that provide more stable disinfectant residuals within premise plumbing would likely help to counteract some of the effects of high water age.