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Public water additives

Features>Water>34. Public water additives

34. Public water additives

There are several reasons why chemicals are added to water supplies. For example, chlorine and chloramine may be added to act as disinfectants, and fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay. Although small amounts of these chemicals are beneficial to the safety and health of the population, excessive exposure could lead to adverse effects. In laboratory animals, some disinfection byproducts have been shown to increase the risk of cancer and other adverse health issues.

This feature requires the use of reverse osmosis (RO) systems and activated charcoal filters to remove harmful byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs) from water sources while maintaining appropriate levels of chlorine, chloramine and fluoride.

Part 1: Disinfectants

Water from faucets, drinking fountains, showers and baths meets the following requirements:

a.42 Residual chlorine less than 0.6 mg/L.
b.54 Residual chloramine less than 4 mg/L.
Part 1: Herbicides and Pesticides

Water from all kitchen faucets and drinking fountains meets the following requirements:

a.44 Atrazine less than 0.001 mg/L.
b.53 Simazine less than 0.002 mg/L.
c.54 Glyphosate less than 0.70 mg/L.
d.54 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid less than 0.07 mg/L.
Part 2: Disinfectant Byproducts

Water from faucets, drinking fountains, showers and baths meets the following requirements:

a.54 Total trihalomethanes less than 0.08 mg/L.
b.54 Total haloacetic acids less than 0.06 mg/L.
Part 3: Fluoride

Water from all faucets and drinking fountains meets the following requirements:

a.54 Fluoride less than 4.0 mg/L.
Respiratory
Integumentary
Reproductive
Digestive

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell Tenant Improvement New Construction
Part 1: Disinfectants P P P
Part 1: Herbicides and Pesticides P P P
Part 2: Disinfectant Byproducts P P P
Part 3: Fluoride P P P
Commercial Kitchen Schools Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Disinfectants P P P P P
Part 1: Herbicides and Pesticides P P P P P
Part 2: Disinfectant Byproducts P P P P P
Part 3: Fluoride P P P P P

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Performance)
Disinfectants 		Performance Test
PART 1 (Performance)
Herbicides and Pesticides 		Performance Test
PART 2 (Performance)
Disinfectant Byproducts 		Performance Test
PART 3 (Performance)
Fluoride 		Performance Test

42

National Water Quality Management Strategy. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 6 Version 2.0. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council. 2011: 167.
34.1.a

The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines set an aesthetic guideline value of 0.6 mg/L of chlorine in drinking water.
54

Office of Water. 2012 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories. Washington D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 2012: 2, 3, 5-11.
34.1.b

The EPA 2012 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories notes that the 1998 Final Rule for Disinfectants and Disinfection By-products set a Maximum Residual Disinfection Level for Chloramine concentrations at 4 mg/L.
34.2.a

The EPA’s 2012 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories notes that the 1998 Final Rule for Disinfection By-products set the total concentration for trihalomethanes at 0.08 mg/L.
34.2.b

The EPA’s 2012 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories notes that the 1998 Final Rule for Disinfection By-products set the total concentration for five Haloacetic acids at 0.06 mg/L.
34.3.a

The EPA's Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories set a Maximum Contaminant Level for Fluoride at 4 mg/L.
Features>Water>34. Public water additives