W04: Enhanced Water Quality – Above Green

(1 point)

INTENT

Provide access to drinking water without unpleasant taste, odor and appearance.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires projects provide drinking water that meets thresholds on contaminants that address aesthetics and taste and verifies performance using on-site tests.

ISSUE

Even when health-based thresholds for water quality are met, water can be unappealing to drink because of contaminants that affect taste, odor and appearance, sometimes referred to as nuisance chemicals. For example, high levels of chloride contribute to a salty taste and iron can give the water a reddish appearance. Therefore, many regulatory bodies set non-enforceable limits, such as the Canadian Aesthetic Objectives and the U.S. National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations, based on human detectability and acceptability for these substances.

SOLUTIONS

Like pollutants with health-based concerns, the treatment system to address nuisance chemicals depends on the contaminant of interest. Assuming the turbidity and chlorine levels are managed, reverse osmosis can remove most of the aesthetic contaminants from the water.

IMPACT

By managing nuisance chemicals, projects can provide more appealing and palatable drinking water.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Meet Drinking Water Taste Properties (1 point)

Verified by Performance Test

For All Spaces

Water delivered to the project for human consumption meets the following thresholds:

Aluminum less than or equal to 0.2 mg/L.
Chloride less than 250 mg/L.
Fluoride less than 2 mg/L.
Manganese less than 0.05 mg/L.
Sodium less than 270 mg/L.
Sulfate less than 250 mg/L.
Iron less than 0.3 mg/L.
Zinc less than 5 mg/L.
Total Dissolved Solids less than 500 mg/L.