Improved design and operations of building water systems to reduce health risks caused by water & energy conservation and extended shutdowns

改进建筑供水系统的设计和运行，以减少水造成的健康风险

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-04341
• 负责人: Prévost, Michèle
• 金额: $ 3.79万
• 依托单位: École Polytechnique de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742895
• 关键词: Improved; design; operations; building; water

Stagnation of water in building water systems can cause elevated concentrations of toxic metals and pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Non Tuberculus Mycobacteria. Pathogens can be amplified within building water systems and cause outbreaks and community acquired disease. Legionella is now the most common cause of drinking water associated outbreaks and Legionnaire's disease rates are increasing rapidly. Maintaining water quality in buildings is a growing challenge because of the unintended consequences of water and energy conservations measures that have been shown to increase health risks. Such measures are highly justified but have unfortunately been implemented to legacy building systems without regard for water quality, often causing severe water quality losses. Recently, the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic forced extended closures of a staggering number of buildings across Canada with extreme stagnation causing unsafe water. The research program aims to provide the evidence to base recommendations to improve the design and operations of building water systems and ensure the provision of safe water. The widespread implementation of low flow devices and thermostatic valves impacts water quality building in water systems. Energy conservation measures for hot water systems in large buildings such as heat exchangers, lowering of temperature set points have led to the proliferation of Legionella causing documented cases and fatalities in Canadian health care facilities. The consequences of these conservation measures is poorly documented and need to be quantified. The research program will address the key knowledge gaps through a combination of field investigations, pilot and bench scale assays, laboratory studies, risk analysis and regulatory impact investigations. Field studies will document the prevalence of pathogens, microbial diversity and the presence of toxic metals in building water systems across Canada using innovative sampling strategies. Intervention field studies will document the impacts of commissioning procedures and water conservation retrofits. Pilot studies will focus on the interplay between materials, water quality and water usage. Laboratory and bench-scale studies will quantify the production of aerosols and colonization potential of low flow faucets and showers to quantify the exposure pathways. Risk analysis (QMRA) models will be used to guide the selection of alert and action levels and define optimal regulatory frameworks. Research results will provide actionable evidence to reduce health risks to their occupants and will be conducted in close collaboration with utilities, regulators and associations with the clear intent of providing: a basis for streamlined and effective guidance and regulations, cost effective environmental monitoring programs, modifications of the building code, drinking water compatible material certification and reviewed building water system design approaches.

在建筑水系统中的水停滞会导致浓度升高的有毒金属和病原体，例如肺炎军团菌，铜绿假单胞菌和非结核分枝杆菌。病原体可以在建筑物系统中扩增，并引起爆发和社区获得的疾病。现在，军团菌是与饮用水相关暴发的最常见原因，军团症患病率正在迅速增加。维持建筑物的水质是一个日益严重的挑战，因为水和能源保护措施的意想不到的后果已被证明增加了健康风险。这样的措施是高度合理的，但不幸的是，已经对传统建筑系统实施，而无需考虑水质，通常会造成严重的水质损失。最近，SARS-COV-2全球大流行迫使整个加拿大大量建筑物的大量建筑物延伸，极端停滞，导致不安全的水。该研究计划旨在为基本建议提供证据，以改善建筑物系统的设计和操作并确保提供安全的水。低流量设备和恒温阀的广泛实施会影响水系统中的水质建设。在大型建筑物（例如热交换器）中的热水系统的节能措施，降低温度设定点导致军团菌的扩散，导致了加拿大医疗机构的案件和死亡人数。这些保护措施的后果记录很少，需要量化。 该研究计划将通过现场调查，试点和基准规模测定，实验室研究，风险分析和监管影响调查的结合来解决关键知识差距。现场研究将使用创新的采样策略记录病原体，微生物多样性以及加拿大建筑水系统中有毒金属的普遍性。干预现场研究将记录调试程序和节水改造的影响。试点研究将集中于材料，水质和用水之间的相互作用。实验室和台式研究将量化气溶胶的产生以及低流水龙头和淋浴的定殖潜力，以量化暴露途径。风险分析（QMRA）模型将用于指导警报和动作水平的选择，并定义最佳的监管框架。研究结果将提供可行的证据，以降低其居住者的健康风险，并将与公用事业，监管机构和协会密切合作，并明确提供提供：简化有效的指导和法规的基础，成本有效的环境监测计划，修改修改建筑法规，饮用水兼容的材料认证和审查的建筑物系统设计方法。