Multi-Unit or Commercial Settings
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For commercial settings, the challenge is coordinating with the building superintendent or facilities manager.
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Special replacement considerations
Additional issues complicate the replacement of any water service to housing containing more than one family and businesses. A lead water service replacement occurring in such settings involves:
- Reviewing the service connection’s tap card to determine the material of construction and the number of service connections.
- Notifying the resident(s) and the owner of the water service replacement and whether there is an LSL on the property.
- Communicating to all the building residents as well as the owner replacing the water service piping.
- Conducting flushing at the water meter connection (unless not feasible).
- Communicating to residents that replacement is complete and precautions they can take now that the water is back in service.
Coordination in advance of construction
Prior planning is important to minimizing disruption for residents of a multi-unit building. The building owner/operator could assist in sharing information with occupants and to reduce the impact on individual residents.
Current practice specific to multi-family settings in addition to measures taken for single-unit buildings
Current practice specific to multi-family settings in addition to measures taken for single-unit buildings
- Letter to occupant and/or posting of notification in public space of anticipated field work, risks, and precautions.
- Request that residents share information with neighbors.
- On-site, door-to-door contact with residents.
Coordination at time of construction
When construction occurs in multi-unit buildings, the information needed is similar to that provided to single-unit buildings (e.g., when water will be unavailable, how to flush their water lines, etc.). Establish expectation for building owner/operator to inform residents (may require local ordinance).
Post signage at entries to multi unit buildings with directions to information on:
Post signage at entries to multi unit buildings with directions to information on:
- Status of project
- Actions individual units should take
Additional actions that can be taken
- Solicit phone numbers or emails for automated notification of residents during progress of project.
- Where multi-family units are prevalent in a work area:
- Hold centralized public meeting opportunity
- Provide an online meeting opportunity or presentation available for download
- To extent available, use location-based automated notification systems (phone or email)
- Opt-in systems to allow households obtain information
- Use commercial databases to facilitate identification of points-of-contact for multi-unit dwelling occupants
Protective measures
When construction occurs, customers in multi-unit buildings need information similar to that provided to single-unit buildings (e.g., how to flush their water lines, what water filters to use, etc.). The building owner/operator can reduce the impact on individual residents by distributing information to occupants and assisting with flushing the service line after replacement and periodically thereafter.
Clearance after an LSL replacement
Use of single-family residence flushing protocol is helpful, but may be less effective in a multi-family structure. Alternatives include:
- Use of POU filters (NSF compliant) for period of time typical of single-family units in community. Filters would be needed for each unit.
- Offer a temporary water supply (e.g., connect the building to a temporary supply line, bottled water).