W01: Fundamental Water Quality – Above Green

(Required)

INTENT

Limit the presence of sediment and water-borne bacteria levels in water for human contact.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires the provision of water that meets thresholds for turbidity and coliforms for drinking and other uses likely to come in contact with building occupants and verifies performance using on-site tests.

ISSUE

The water supplies of most cities use an extensive treatment system to maintain the integrity and safety of the water. Two properties of water—total coliforms and turbidity—commonly serve as indicators for the effectiveness of these systems and for the possible presence of other, more concerning contaminants. Coliform bacteria are naturally present in the environment and are generally considered harmless. However, some coliforms such as many belonging to the E. coli species may cause disease if ingested. Turbidity, a measure of water cloudiness, is an easily quantifiable indicator of the availability of food and shelter for microbes, in addition to indicating possible problems with filtration (and possibly causing aesthetic concerns). High turbidity water also can foul or reduce the efficacy of water treatment technologies intended to remove health-related contaminants.

SOLUTIONS

Sediment filters can reduce the turbidity of water by removing suspended solids. This can solve appearance-based concerns of water quality and prepare the water for later stages of treatment. Once the water is of a low turbidity, UV disinfection systems are effective at destroying coliforms and other microbes.

IMPACT

Managing contaminants that serve as indicators can prepare the water for further treatment and demonstrate that treatment methods are properly functioning.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Meet Sediment Thresholds

Verified by Performance Test

For All Spaces

Water delivered to the project for human consumption, handwashing and showers/baths meets the following threshold:

Turbidity less than or equal to 1.0 NTU.

Part 2

Meet Microorganisms Thresholds

Verified by Performance Test

For All Spaces

Water delivered to the project for human consumption, handwashing and showers/baths meets the following requirement:

Contains 0 CFU / 100 mL total coliforms (including E. coli).

Part 3

Monitor Fundamental Water Parameters

Verified by Operations Schedule, On-going Data Report

For All Spaces

One of the following requirements is met:

The water contaminants listed in this feature are monitored at intervals of no less than once per year and results are submitted annually through WELL Online. The number and location of sampling points for on-going monitoring complies with the requirements outlined in the Performance Verification Guidebook.
The threshold levels of the water contaminants listed in this feature, as reported in a local municipal water quality report, are submitted annually through WELL Online.
Project achieves at least one point in Feature W05: Water Quality Consistency.

Note: For on-going monitoring, projects are not required to use devices or methods that comply with the requirements described in the Performance Verification Guidebook. However, if measurements are undertaken by a WELL Performance Testing Agent in compliance with the Performance Verification Guidebook, results submitted to GBCI from each year and test location may be averaged and utilized for recertification purposes.