Buildings, never designed to sit idle for long periods, were no more prepared for Covid-19 than people. Extreme water stagnation from shutdowns due to the virus can cause excessive amounts of biological pathogens and heavy metals, including lead and copper, to collect in building water systems. Building Water Essentials is a self-paced online course that provides actionable knowledge needed to address the effects from the pandemic and other situations, such as natural disasters like floods and fires, that can degrade building water quality.
Developed by Purdue University researchers who are recognized experts in the field, and consulted internationally, the Building Water Essentials course provides a baseline understanding of how building water systems are designed, how they operate and when problems arise, and how those problems can be resolved – information that is not readily available for public health officials (and others dealing with the issues) to access in a single package anywhere else. Topics include system components, codes, standards, water quality, flow, and the potential health risks, including water quality investigations and remediation.