Saturday, June 21, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Water

Lockdowns and water quality: building usage study prompts recommendations

February 6, 2024
in Water
A A

During the lockdowns, lower occupancy in buildings led to reduced water use, raising concerns about water quality due to stagnation. Government warnings highlighted increased risks of chemical and microbiological contamination in water systems. Studies showed that reduced usage and stagnation could elevate heavy metal levels and decrease disinfectant effectiveness, affecting microbial growth. To address this, regular fixture flushing was recommended, which temporarily improved water quality but also revealed the complexities of managing building water systems effectively.

A recent study (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2023.100314) published in Volume 18 of the journal Environmental Science and Ecotechnology appears to reveal crucial insights into the impact of reduced building occupancy on water quality.

Conducted at Purdue University, this research explored the impact of reduced building occupancy – during the lockdowns – on water quality. The study focused on four buildings with varied characteristics and assessed water quality changes during low-use periods. Monitoring key parameters such as heavy metal concentrations and chlorine levels, it evaluated the effects of water stagnation.

The findings showed that prolonged stagnation led to significant variations in water quality, including changes in heavy metal and chlorine levels. These variations were influenced by factors like the building’s age, size, and water system design. The study also assessed the effectiveness of flushing practices, a method to refresh stagnant water in plumbing systems.

The results revealed that while flushing could alleviate some of the negative effects of stagnation, its effectiveness varied across different building types, highlighting the complexity of managing water quality in buildings with changing occupancy levels. This research underscores the importance of developing customized water management strategies, particularly during unexpected events like pandemics, which can significantly alter building usage patterns.

Highlights

  • No standard plumbing flushing guidance was available.
  • Four low occupancy institutional buildings (with the same source) were sampled.
  • Chlorine residual was often not detected across all buildings.
  • No chlorine was detected at the entry of 1 building after flushing for 7 h.
  • No widespread Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn contamination was found.

Lead researcher Kyungyeon Ra, along with a team from Purdue University, underscores the significance of this research in understanding the changes in water quality due to altered building occupancy patterns during the pandemic.

This study highlights the need for effective water management strategies in buildings with low occupancy. The findings have implications for public health, particularly in understanding and mitigating risks associated with water stagnation and devising appropriate flushing protocols.

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

Water

Conductivity level probes prioritise robustness and ease of use

June 19, 2025
Water

Flow monitoring off-grid in Cornwall

June 17, 2025
Water

Ofwat Innovation Fund highlights nature’s role in solving water sector challenges

June 17, 2025
Water

WWTW in Scotland wins award from the Royal Academy of Engineering

June 13, 2025
Water

Profiling the growing use of AI in public-sector WWTPs

June 11, 2025
Water

Blockage-detecting robot ready to patrol sewers, says group behind it

June 11, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Federal Regulator’s Approval for Gas Plant Queue-Jumping Sparks Outrage

February 22, 2025

Brighton installs one of the largest real-time air quality sensor networks in the UK

January 9, 2025

Don't miss it

Energy

Ground Source Heat Pump Manufacturers Urge Senators to Preserve Geothermal Tax Credits

June 20, 2025
Energy

Can Solar and Geothermal Energy Help a Church and Its Neighbors Wean Off Fossil Fuels?

June 20, 2025
News

Liquid-hydrogen fuelled concept car unveiled at Le Mans

June 20, 2025
Energy

How a Data Center Company Uses Stranded Renewable Energy

June 19, 2025
News

New SuDS National Standards aim to support the government’s housebuilding aspirations

June 19, 2025
Activism

Juneteenth and Its Role in Environmental Justice—for All

June 19, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

Ground Source Heat Pump Manufacturers Urge Senators to Preserve Geothermal Tax Credits

June 20, 2025

Can Solar and Geothermal Energy Help a Church and Its Neighbors Wean Off Fossil Fuels?

June 20, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.