CS-v5 WEc1: Water Metering and Leak Detection 1 point

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Intent

To conserve potable water resources, support water management, limit potential material waste due to water leak damages, and identify opportunities for additional water savings by tracking water consumption.

Requirements

Option 1. Submeters (1 point)
Install permanent water meters for each applicable subsystem defined below:

• Indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings. Meter systems serving at least 80% of indoor fixtures and fittings as described in WEp2: Minimum Water Efficiency. Fixtures and fittings not addressed in the prerequisite, including janitor sinks, water coolers, and bottle fillers, may be included or excluded from the indoor plumbing fixtures’ subsystem at the project team’s discretion.
• Irrigation system.
• Each makeup water system (e.g., cold water inlet for domestic hot water, swimming pools, chilled water systems, process water systems).
• Commercial kitchen (if the kitchen serves at least 100 meals per day of operation).
• Laundry (if the project includes commercial laundry equipment that processes at least 120,000 lb [57,606 kg] of laundry per year or if the project includes a public laundry room).

The facility manager and/or tenant(s) must be able to access the submeter data in real time via local network, building management system, cloud service, app, or online database. All submeters must be capable of recording data at least hourly.

Healthcare only
In addition to the requirements above, install water meters in any five of the following:

• Purified water systems (reverse-osmosis, deionized)
• Filter backwash water
• Water use in the dietary department
• Water use in laundry
• Water use in laboratory
• Water use in central sterile and processing department
• Water use in physiotherapy and hydrotherapy and treatment areas
• Water use in surgical suite
• Closed-loop hydronic system makeup water
• Cold water makeup for domestic hot water systems

If a healthcare project does not include five of the additional subsystems listed above within the project scope, the project may alternatively submeter all water subsystems that are applicable to the project scope.

Residential only
Install a permanent water meter for each residential dwelling unit that measures the total potable water use for the unit. These meters need not be utility owned or utility grade.

OR

Option 2. Leak Detection Sensors (1 point)
Install permanent water flow meter or sensors for each applicable subsystem defined below:

• Project irrigation system at the point of entry, if irrigation is included in the project scope.
• At least 50% of the project flush fixtures. Water sensors can be installed on each flush fixture or for a group of flush fixtures (e.g., one per restroom facility). For LEED BD+C: Core and Shell projects, this only applies to flush fixtures within the project’s scope of work. 
• Each makeup water system (e.g., cold water inlet for domestic hot water, swimming pools, chilled water systems, and process water systems).

The leak detection system should be able to identify a leak triggered by abnormal flow rate above normal range, or physically detect a water leak, and initiate an alarm upon a leak detection.

The facility manager and/or tenant(s) must be able to access the sensor data in real time via local network, BMS, cloud service, app, or online database.

Develop an action plan that addresses how the building manager or tenant will have access to data in real time and how the building manager and/or tenant(s) will address and remedy any detected leak.