HEALTH AND SANITATION 39 water throughout the building . As water is used , new water that contains disinfectant from the water utility replaces the water that was used . The residence time of the water in the building depends on the flow rates and flush or fill volumes of the plumbing fixtures and appliances , and the number of times these fixtures and appliances are used each day . If the water sits too long , the disinfectant dissipates . Couple the loss of disinfectant with other conditions , such as stagnation , improper temperature control and the presence of bacteria feeding nutrients from elastomers and other organic components in the plumbing systems , and the health risks to building occupants can increase .
So , how can we best manage these risks ? One of the key recommendations is to establish a Water Management Program ( WMP ) in accordance with ASHRAE 188- 2018 , Legionellosis : Risk Management for Building Water Systems . A well-developed WMP , once completed , then becomes the reference manual for the water systems in your building . Other recommended actions include regular communication with your water purveyor and regular testing for water quality , paying particular attention to disinfectant levels at key points in the potable water system . This testing , coupled with regular inspections of equipment , establishes a baseline ; and deviations from the baseline , determined by ongoing testing , determine if other remedial actions are required .
The manual differentiates between complete and partial shutdown . It discusses the frequency of flushing and describes different flushing protocols with the idea of periodically turning over the water in the potable water system . And , when it is time to reopen , the manual provides guidance for bringing the building back to normal operations .
The New Normal As buildings continue to reopen , many infection control and safety measures will be noticeable to building occupants , but as usual , the measures taken to maintain healthy plumbing and mechanical systems will go largely unheralded . Pumps , fans , and compressors transparently move water , air , and refrigerant throughout all buildings . During normal operation , all three mediums contribute to the mode of transmission that can impact the health of the building occupants . Thus , the work of the building WMP may be thankless , but will nonetheless be critically important to help grow and maintain public confidence in the safety of our buildings .
As a society , this pandemic taught us that we need to be better prepared for the next time we need to respond to a similar threat on a global or regional scale . We have learned to be proactive , and the Manual of Recommended Practices will be an important tool to help prepare the building water systems for future shutdowns , provide measures to exercise water systems during an interruption to the normal building operations , and the steps required for the safe reopening of the building .
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The manual differentiates between complete and partial shutdown . It discusses the frequency of flushing and describes different flushing protocols with the idea of periodically turning over the water in the potable water system . And , when it is time to reopen , the manual provides guidance for bringing the building back to normal operations PA
“ The health and safety of the potable water systems in our buildings is predicated on the regular turnover of the water throughout the building .”
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February 2022 Volume 27 I Number 12 www . plumbingafrica . co . za