Watershed Investigates Environmental Impact of Building Materials on Water Quality
The environmental impact of building materials during construction can have long lasting effects.
Watershed is working with researchers at the University of South Alabama and the National Institute of Health to determine how water supply piping materials affect the quality of water in our buildings. The team is particularly interested in how different types of PEX piping react with water and disinfectants, investigating whether chemical reactants are released into the water and whether piping supports the growth of bio films.
“We’re really interested in broadening the discussion about indoor environmental quality,” said Bryant. “We deal a lot with the quality of indoor air, what chemicals are off-gassing into the air, if there’s any mold in the air, even thermal comfort and things like that.… There’s just not a real discussion about the quality of water provided.”