Organic contaminants | WELL Standard

#24477 - Where is water sample testing performed, and what equipment is used during WELL Performance Verification?

Water testing is performed at drinking water locations (i.e. sinks, water fountains) by collecting water samples to be reviewed in an offsite lab. A complete description of the sampling protocol and the field equipment specifications and methodologies can be viewed in the WELL Performance Verification Guidebook.

#24478 - Is my project required to conduct preliminary testing of water quality to confirm that the WELL water quality requirements are being met?

Preliminary water quality testing may provide useful feedback for the project team during the integrative design process. However, the official water testing will be performed by the WELL Performance Testing Agent during the WELL Performance Verification stage of the WELL Certification process. While preliminary testing is not required by projects, the field equipment specifications and methodologies followed by the WELL Performance Testing Agent can be found in the WELL Performance Verification Guidebook.

#24479 - For a Core and Shell project, where do landlords need to meet the water quality requirements? Does the landlord need to set tenant design guidelines requiring that the WELL Water Quality requirements be met within tenant spaces?

Per the WELL Core & Shell matrix, the building is required to implement WELL requirements for the extent of developer buildout and have confirmed tenant support. In this case, this means either providing tenants with base building water that meets the feature requirements or providing tenants with the same treatment system (or subsidy of treatment system) used at the point of sampling during Performance Verification.

#24480 - A project uses reclaimed rainwater; however it is used only for urinals, toilets, dishwasher and irrigation. Is this water required to meet any of the WELL Water Quality requirements?

No, all water, including reclaimed rain water, being used in situations that do not lead to human contact are not required to meet the water quality requirements.

#24481 - For the Water concept, are the WELL requirements for drinking water testing applicable only to cold water?

Yes. According to WELL Performance Verification Guidebook, water for human contact is conducted on cold water. However, for mixed water faucets, the hot supply should be turned off. If water temperature conditions cannot be altered, testing is conducted using the available water.

#24482 - I am a tenant in the building and the restrooms are operated and maintained by the building landlord, hence are outside our tenant space. In this situation, are the WELL water quality requirements still applicable in these bathrooms?

No. If the restrooms are outside the WELL project boundary, the project is not required to meet the water quality requirements at these locations. Performance testing would only occur in fixtures within the project space. However, if the tenant space does not have a drinking fixture, the next closest fixture would be tested (for example: bathroom fixtures outside of the project boundary).