Conduct regular water quality testing

Rationale: Regularly testing for a comprehensive list of contaminants and publicizing results helps protect occupants from exposure to organisms and chemicals that may be present in drinking water at the point of use, reducing risk of adverse health effects such as lead poisoning, liver and kidney damage, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Water Quality Testing (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

1. Conduct water quality testing that is at least as rigorous as the Fitwel Water Quality Testing Requirements.

The Fitwel Water Quality Testing Protocol will be attached shortly.

2. Conduct testing a minimum of twice per year.

3. Conduct testing at a minimum of one qualifying drinking water supply fixture (tap or fountain) that is farthest from the water source on each floor that includes a qualifying drinking water supply under the control of building management, including floors with common areas.

4. Confirm water testing results meet all of the following maximum contaminant level limits:

• Arsenic: 0.010 mg/L
• Cadmium: .003mg/L
• Copper: 1.3mg/L
• Total Coliforms: 5.0 percent (no more than 5.0 percent samples total coliform-positive)
• Lead: 0.015 mg/L
• Legionella: 0.000 cfu/mL
• Nitrates: 50 mg/L
• Turbidity 1.0 NTU
• Vinyl Chloride: 0.002 mg/L.

5. Ensure that testing is conducted after all of the following scenarios:

• any construction and major renovations impacting the building’s water system prior to occupancy within all required areas
• any long-term building closure lasting at least two weeks
• flooding or extreme precipitation events.

Option 2 - Non-Potable Water Source (Full Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. For buildings and spaces not connected to a potable water supply, confirm that the water meets the maximum contaminant level limits from one of the following standards:

• the United States Environmental Protection Agency National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (found at fitwel.org/fitwel-standards)
• the World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, Fourth Edition (found at fitwel.org/fitwel-standards)
• the local official drinking water quality standard.

Option 3 - Water Delivery Service (Full Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. For projects with independent water supplies not connected to the building's main water source (such as water coolers), confirm that potable water will be delivered to the project.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Certified statements
• Report
• Calculations 
• Annotated plans