Considerations for Large Building Water Quality after Extended Stagnation

Authors

Caitlin R. Proctor, Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette IN.
William J. Rhoads, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA.
Tim Keane, Consulting Engineer, Legionella Risk Management, Inc PA.
Maryam Salehi, Department of Civil Engineering University of Memphis Memphis TN.
Kerry Hamilton, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment Arizona State University Tempe AZ.
Kelsey J. Pieper, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Northeastern University Boston MA.
David M. Cwiertny, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 4105 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences University of Iowa Iowa City IA.
Michele Prévost, Professor and Principal Chairholder, NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal CP Québec Canada.
Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering West Lafayette IN.

Abstract

The unprecedented number of building closures related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is concerning because water stagnation will occur in many buildings that do not have water management plans in place. Stagnant water can have chemical and microbiological contaminants that pose potential health risks for occupants. Health officials, building owners, utilities, and other entities are rapidly developing guidance to address this issue, but the scope, applicability, and details included in the guidance vary widely. To provide a primer of large building water system preventative and remedial strategies, peer-reviewed, government, industry, and nonprofit literature relevant to water stagnation and decontamination practices for plumbing was synthesized. Preventative practices to help avoid the need for recommissioning (e.g., routine flushing) and specific actions, challenges, and limitations associated with recommissioning were identified and characterized. Considerations for worker and occupant safety were also indicated. The intended audience of this work includes organizations developing guidance.

Publication Title

AWWA water science

Recommended Citation

Proctor, C. R., Rhoads, W. J., Keane, T., Salehi, M., Hamilton, K., Pieper, K. J., Cwiertny, D. M., Prévost, M., & Whelton, A. J. (2020). Considerations for Large Building Water Quality after Extended Stagnation. AWWA water science, e1186. https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1186