Considerations for Large Building Water Quality after Extended Stagnation

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic prompted the closure and reopening of previously shutdown large buildings globally. Building water stagnation has been identified as a potentially serious chemical and microbiological health concern for occupants. Health officials, building owners, utilities, and other entities are rapidly developing guidance. A synthesis of peer-reviewed, government, industry, and nonprofit literature relevant to the implications of water stagnation in plumbing systems and decontamination practices for water quality and health was conducted. A primer of large building plumbing preventative and remedial strategies is provided to inform ongoing efforts to develop recommissioning guidance. Preventative practices to help avoid the need for recommissioning and specific actions, challenges, and limitations associated with recommissioning were identified and characterized. Considerations for worker and occupant safety were also indicated. The responsibility for building water safety was identified to be shared between the building owner, drinking water provider, and local and state public health authorities. [First uploaded April 7, 2020. Minor changes (funding, acknowledgments) made April 8, 2020.]

Impacts of COVID-19 social distancing policies on water demand: A population dynamics perspective

“…However, the magnitude of this increase was likely smaller than that experienced soon after the Stay Home-Work Safe order, similarly for the magnitude of the nonresidential demand decrease given the 25% businesses' operational capacity potential. What may also be expected during this phase is an increase in water demand from additional maintenance activities (e.g., flushing), which water utilities typically implement to alleviate potential water-quality issues associated with stagnant water inside pipes due to business closures following the Stay Home-Work Safe order ( Cooley et al, 2020 ; Gleick, 2020 ; Proctor et al, 2020 ). The magnitude of demand increase from additional maintenance activities may be insufficient to solely cause significant shifts in total demand.…”

Flushing of stagnant premise water systems after the COVID-19 shutdown can reduce infection risk by Legionella and Mycobacterium spp

“…Building inactivity results in stagnant water in the premise plumbing that can adversely affect water quality, including the loss of residual chlorine, growth of bacteria, and release of harmful metals like lead. [1][2][3][4] Temporarily idle buildings is not a new issue (e.g., during the annual summer recess of schools). Yet, there are gaps in the peer-reviewed literature regarding microbiological water quality changes during such closures and the corresponding risks.…”

Collect and Treat Urban Wastewater to Fight the Pandemic Disease of COVID-19 Effectively

“…Experiences about the COVID-19 disease show that poor people living in neighborhoods polluted with the wastewaters flowing in the streets are more infected or dead than affluent people in clean neighborhoods [16], [17], [18] and [19]. Therefore, well-treated sewage can protect people's health against this disease [20]. Untreated wastewater causes major damage to the environment and human health.…”