Codes and standards are intended to provide a minimum level of protection for the public’s health, safety and welfare. And, generally, these documents accomplish that intended purpose in the urban/metropolitan areas of the United States. However, that may not be accurate when one gets into the rural or more isolated areas of the country.

ASPE intends for this guide to be periodically updated to provide the latest innovations in Legionella and waterborne pathogen mitigation in building water systems and invites participation from all stakeholders.

ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78-2023 will assist engineers, designers, plumbers, builders/developers, landscape and irrigation professionals, state and local government, and end users in implementing a stormwater harvesting system while protecting public health and safety.

In larger domestic hot water applications, we often see centralized water heating lineups with or without storage tank equipment to produce and distribute domestic hot water inside buildings and facilities. I often see these more robust systems in healthcare projects, numerous hospitality (hotel) projects as well as some multifamily installations when energy metering is not required for hot water serving the units (apartments).

Many of the topics I have discussed in my column to this point have been about temperature considerations within the supply and return system based on recommendations in the community and right-sizing domestic water piping to reduce the overall volume of water in the building’s piping system.

Almost 80% of all water consumption comes from two groups: No. 1, thermoelectric power, and No. 2, irrigation (farming). Public supply, which includes industrial buildings, commercial buildings and residences, accounts for only 10%.

Somewhere along the way, fossil fuels have gotten a bad rap. Coal, oil, natural gas — you name it. We use fossil fuels for everything from creating electricity, warming the shelters we live in and scooting around town. Burning fossil fuels has become a necessity for our way of life.

All signs are pointing to a positive 2023 on the nonresidential construction front. On one hand, the sector is likely to be bolstered by funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. On the other hand, residential construction is anticipated to slow. Either way, it won’t be all smooth sailing ahead.

There are some amazing builders in our industry that I’ve been fortunate to work with — men and women who lead teams with great success while at the same time building great leaders beside them.

“Governmental members” may desire a public perception of having “no vested financial interest in” the development process. But there is no requirement or mandate for them to be transparent in avoiding conflicts of interest.