Project Impacts and Results

(partially updated October 2020)

Assistance to government agencies, businesses, and associations

Presentation for the USEPA Water Workshop, September 2020.
Presentation for the Florida American Water Works Association, August 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the International Water Assocation for water professionals, July 2020.
Presentation/webinar for Indiana K-12 education and public health professionals available at our main presentation page, July 2020.
Presentation for Christopher Burke, Ltd. and friends available at our main presentation page, June 2020.
Presentation for Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, June 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the Water Research Foundation for water utility professionals, May 2020.
Presentation and panel discussion for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics, May 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, May 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the US Green Building Council Michigan, May 2020.
Presentation for the National Environmental Health Association, May 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the Plumbing Industry Leadership Coalition, May 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the AWWA Tennessee-Kentucky Section, May 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the Indiana Facilities Management Association, May 2020.
Presentation/webinar for the PCHPPros, May 2020.
Provide support to multiple U.S. colleges and universities seeking to avoid building water safety challenges associated with low/no occupancy buildings.
Provided support to a building engineer in Pakistan, India, and South Africa, seeking to understand how to flush building plumbing and determine if the water can cause illness.
Provided support to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) about building water flushing guidance.
Reviewed the State of Washington Department of Health guidance to owners of large buildings focused on Legionella and Building Water System Closures issued April 9, 2020.
Provided support to National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) about low to no occupancy buildings and water system impacts.
Provided feedback to the People's Water Board Coalition and Safe Water Engineering, LLC for their guidance about plumbing safety after water shutoffs are reversed for single-family homes. The coalition is a group of nongovernmental organizations, faith-based, community-based, and labor organizations supporting health and safety of the people in the Detroit region within the State of Michigan.
Provided input to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) for their about plumbing safety after water shutoffs are reversed for single-family homes. AWWA represents 4,300 utilities that supply more than over 80% of the nation's drinking water.
Provided advice to the Detroit Water and Sewer Department about plumbing safety concerns when reconnecting water service to formerly disconnected homes. This utility serves 680,000 people or approximately 40% of the State of Michigan's population.

Testing results

Collaborated with 7 organizations in four countries to develop a building manager water system guidance document released by the AWWA
State-of-the-science building water stagnation study published in the AWWA Water Science journal.
Collaborated with Virginia Tech who lead the development of a Building Water System Guidance Evaluation Tool
Completed and released a short educational video about Why Calculations are Needed for Building Water System Flushing Plans?
Completed and released a short educational video about Why Flush Building Water Systems?
Completed and released a building water safety and recommissioning report in collaboration with leading experts in the university and private sector. You can access this report here.
Developed a flushing plan for a primary school building water system. This example shows what should be considered for simply removing water inside the plumbing and replacing it with fresh water. You can download the PDF here.
Developed a flushing plan for a second 3 floor office building water system. This example shows what should be considered for simply removing water inside the plumbing and replacing it with fresh water. You can download the PDF here.
Developed a flushing plan for a 3 floor office building water system. This example shows what should be considered for simply removing water inside the plumbing and replacing it with fresh water. You can download the PDF here.
Actively conducting water testing at large buildings with low to no occupancy. More results will be posted when they are finalized.

Additional engagement

Released a public education report in The Conversation, Dangerous bacteria showing up in school water systems, reminding all building opening amid COVID-19 to check pipes
Provided a scientific opinion to the City of Vancouver, BC Canada about cooling tower ordinance proposal, May 2020.
Released public education report in The Conversation, The coronavirus might make buildings sick, too
Quoted in print and online media with Circle of Blue, The Weather Channel, PBS News Hour, Business Insider, The Houston Chronicle, SeattlePI, Associated Press, NBC, NPR, Nature, USA Today, New York Times, Journal Sentinel, Indy Star, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics, Channel News Asia (Singapore), The New Indian Express (India), The Columbia Chronicle, Smart Water Magazine, WQP, Contractor Magazine.
Radio with NPR Here and Now, NPR Marketplace, 620WTMJ, WFYI
Television with CBSN
Podcasts with BYU Radio Top of Mind with Julie Rose