Water Access and Quality – Above Green

Required

Intent

To provide all sections of the society with equitable access to clean drinking water and sanitation services and prevent pollution from stormwater runoff.

Requirements

Water and wastewater systems serving the city or community must meet the following requirements:

1. Water and Sanitation Access

Path 1:

100% coverage of all buildings within the boundary by public water supply and wastewater collection systems including centralized and decentralized systems.

Path 2:

For cities which have not achieved a 100% coverage of all buildings within the boundary by public water supply and wastewater collection systems, provide a roadmap for achieving the same within 5 years of certification or at the time of LEED recertification. Requirement can be met by including private water wells if it is permitted within the local or regional jurisdiction.

2. Drinking Water Quality

Demonstrate compliance with U.S. EPA’s 2018 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories Tables within the last year (or reporting year) for drinking water rules on chemical and microbial contaminants in drinking water pipes or comply with local, state, or national equivalent.

Report on enforcement actions taken in case of non-compliance with the adopted drinking water quality standard, under the following categories:
- Violation of testing frequency
- Violation in water quality parameter threshold
Provide the following data for each water supply facility:
- Frequency of water quality testing (quarterly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.)
- Water quality testing parameters

Reference: STAR v2 BE-2: Community Water Systems, Outcome 1

3. Treated Wastewater Quality

All centralized or publicly owned and decentralized (on-site, individual systems, septic systems, and others) wastewater treatment systems and wastewater discharged to surface water must comply with U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program of Clean Water Act (CWA) or local, state, or national equivalent for 100% of wastewater generated. Meet the water quality parameter thresholds in NPDES permit program manual section 5.1.1 - Secondary and Equivalent to Secondary Treatment Standards.

Report on enforcement actions taken in case of non-compliance with the adopted wastewater treatment and quality standard, under the following categories:
- Violation of testing frequency
- Violation in water quality parameter threshold
Provide the following data for each wastewater treatment facility:
- Frequency of testing treated wastewater (quarterly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.)
- Water quality testing parameters

All wastewater treatment systems that are independently operated onsite or decentralized and are outside the jurisdiction of the city or development authority must disclose the applicable standards for wastewater treatment and discharge.

Reference: STAR v2 BE-2: Community Water Systems, Outcome 3

4. Stormwater Quality

CITIES

Adopt a policy to comply with U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for stormwater pollution prevention from construction and industrial activities and municipal sources or local, state, or national equivalent.

Reference: STAR v2 BE-2: Community Water Systems, Outcome 4

COMMUNITIES

Monitor the quality of stormwater discharged from the community and ensure compliance with U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for stormwater pollution prevention from construction and industrial activities and municipal sources or local, state, or national equivalent.