Large Building Water Quality Issues Workshop developed by RCAP/AWWA - PDF document

Large Building Water Quality Issues Workshop developed by RCAP/AWWA and funded by the USEPA 1 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Learning Objectives As a result of this lesson you will be able to: • Recognize water quality challenges of premise plumbing systems in large buildings • Discuss the difference between water supplier and building owner responsibilities • Identify actions you can take from the water supply side to help mitigate or prevent water quality issues • Advise building owners on water quality improvement strategies Agenda • Premise plumbing challenges • Roles and responsibilities • Regulations and guidelines • Legionella and premise plumbing • Lead and premise plumbing • Communicating with large building owners 2 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Premise plumbing challenges Safe water  Water treatment facility Source water Distribution system Premise plumbing in large buildings Safe water ? What is premise plumbing? • Premise plumbing refers to the pipes after the service connection line all the way to the tap, such as those in hospitals, hotels, schools, and other buildings. • Premise plumbing environments commonly host bacteria that thrive and proliferate in these unregulated conditions 3 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Large Building Water Quality • Complex distribution systems ( premise plumbing ) • Water quality can degrade Complex distribution systems • Dead ends • Areas of little use • Oversized Decreased water quality due to: • High water age – Loss of residuals – Disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation 4 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Who is responsible for premise plumbing? Water supplier responsibility typically ends at property line Water supplier Building owner responsibility responsibility Property boundary Legal responsibility: – Water supplier responsible to produce/deliver high to the service connection (exception in U.S. is Lead and Copper Rule) – Building owner legally responsible for water quality in premise plumbing 5 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Responsibilities for Building Owner/Operator if they install treatment • Water quality management • Following published standards • Monitoring and responding to changes in water quality Utility and Building Owner Collaboration • Two way communication – understand any potential water quality issues before making treatment-related decisions • Understanding the issue and solutions helps utilities direct customers to proper resources to solve the problem Group Discussion • Public Water System suppliers are not legally responsible for premise plumbing water quality. So why is it important for premise plumbing owner/operators to consult with their water supplier prior to making treatment-related decisions? 6 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Regulations and Guidelines Regulations for a water utility • Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) – Regulates contaminants that may cause adverse public health effects • Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) or Groundwater Rule (GW) – Requires water systems to remove pathogens and provide disinfection Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015 Guidelines for building management water quality • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) – ASHRAE Standard 188-2015 - Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems – ASHRAE Guideline 12-2000 - Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth and Spread in Buildings 7 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Guidelines for building management water quality • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – CMS mandates water management plans – Includes hospitals, critical access hospitals, long-term care facilities When does a building become a Public Water System? • Definition of a Public Water System: – “a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances if the system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals” PWS exempt from regulations if they meet all 4 criteria: – Consists only of distribution and storage facilities and does not have any collection and treatment facilities – Obtains all of its water from, but is not owned or operated by, a regulated public water system – Does not sell water to any person – Is not a carrier which conveys passengers in interstate commerce • Once building installs treatment system, they are subject to federal drinking water regulations 8 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Regulatory Impacts • The problem lies with management of water quality once it enters premise plumbing • Regulations stop at premise – responsibility of building owner Knowledge Checkpoint • A building owner decides to install a treatment system. What additional control measures should they consider? Legionella & Premise Plumbing 9 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Legionella Background • Most prevalent in aquatic and moist environments – Occurs in distribution systems and premise plumbing • L. pneumophila first identified after 1976 pneumonia outbreak at American Legion Convention in Philadelphia • The genus Legionella includes >50 species, many of which are pathogenic How Legionella Affects Building Water Systems & People Legionella in water Amplification biofilm, stagnation, temperature, disinfection loss, etc. Aerosolization showers and faucets, cooling towers, etc. Transmission (inhalation or aspiration) susceptible host Legionella Health Effects (continued) • Legionellosis occurs in two forms: – Legionnaires’ Disease (LD): pneumonia, high fever, respiratory or multi-organ failure, death – Pontiac Fever: fever, muscle aches, mild respiratory infection (flu-like illness) 10 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Factors within building water systems that promote Legionella growth: • Higher temperature (95-115°F) • Stagnation • Biofilm growth a • Scale and sediment • Disinfection loss Source: CDC a Biofilms form when microbes stick to surfaces in aqueous environments and excrete a slimy, glue-like substance that can anchor them to all kinds of material. Risk Management Approaches • Water temperature • Ensure disinfection residual • Flushing • Add treatment systems Water temperature management – Temperatures of 95 to 115° F (outside of Legionella’s growth range), are effective – Be aware of scalding risks posed by higher water temperatures – Higher temperatures may impact existing chemical treatment 11 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Risk Management Summary • Before making treatment-related decisions, consult: – public water system to better understand any potential water quality issues – primacy agency about specific requirements • To help mitigate growth of Legionella : – Avoid dead ends and stagnation – Control water temperature Knowledge Checkpoint • What major factors promote Legionella growth in building water systems (provide at least two)? • Where can Legionella grow and/or spread within building water systems (provide two examples)? Lead & Premise Plumbing 12 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

Sources of lead in buildings • Service pipes that contain lead corrode • Brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder Large building plumbing systems Factors that impact dissolved lead concentrations • Water quality parameters – pH, alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, hardness – Chlorine residual levels, – Presence of corrosion inhibitors • Materials • Other conditions – Temperature, Flow velocity, Electrical current 13 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015

EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools • Training school officials to raise awareness of the potential occurrences, causes, and health effects of lead in drinking water. EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools (continued) • Testing drinking water in schools to identify potential problems and take corrective actions as necessary. EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools (continued) • Telling students, parents, staff, and the larger community about monitoring programs, potential risks, the results of testing, and remediation actions. 14 Developed by AWWA in partnership with RCAP and funded by USEPA, Published 2015