Multi-Unit or Commercial Settings
Multi-unit housing and commercial buildings represents a challenge for lead service line (LSL) replacement initiatives as the activities involved have impacts on multiple families. Because lead pipe was used for smaller diameter pipes (typically < 2 inch), impacted multi-unit buildings are usually older homes converted to other uses, including apartments and smaller buildings (e.g., duplexes, small apartment buildings, etc.).  Multi-unit settings take a number of forms:
  • Multiple water service connections (e.g., apartment complex).
  • More than one housing unit served by one water service (e.g., apartments).​
  • Commercial setting may include restaurants, schools, and child care centers.​​​
Reaching multi-family and commercial property managers is key.
When analyzing available public records, focus on the ownership of property and key points of contact (e.g., property managers). Local building code officials, health departments, property management associations, and landlord associations can provide insight into local property management organizations.

​In multi-unit settings, the people occupying the building may be tenants and not owners. With these complexities, replacement of water services encounters additional challenges in this types of buildings, including:
  • Obtaining cooperation of the landlord,
  • Effective communication with all residents,
  • Coordination among a large number of households, the property owner, contractors, and the utility,​
  • Ensuring appropriate flushing of piping after a replacement,
  • Ensuring effective follow-up with / by all occupants.​​
Whole-building flushing in multi-unit buildings:
Committed participation by building managers is key to post-replacement whole- building flushing. Flushing post-replacement at the water meter is preferred. All building owners should be encouraged to maintain a routine flushing program for buildings to maintain water quality throughout the structure.
For commercial settings, the challenge is coordinating with the building superintendent or facilities manager.

Partial replacements in buildings with multiple family units

​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.
  • Turning off water as needed to both control water loss and introduction of lead particulates.
  • Notifying the customer(s) and owner of the water service replacement and whether there is an LSL on whose property. It is important to notify everyone involved at this stage. 
  • Replacing the water service piping.
  • Conducting flushing at the meter connection (unless not feasible). 
  • Once coordination is complete placing the water service back on line.​

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
  1. Letter to occupant and/or posting of notification in public space of anticipated field work, risks, and precautions.
  2. Request that residents share information with neighbors.
  3. 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:
  • Status of project
  • Actions individual units should take

Additional actions that can be taken

  1. Solicit phone numbers or emails for automated notification of residents during progress of project.
  2. Where multi-family units are prevalent in a work area:
    1. Hold centralized public meeting opportunity
    2. Online meeting or presentation available for download
  3. To extent available, use location-based automated notification systems (phone or email)
    1. Opt-in systems
    2. Use of commercial databases

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 unlikely to be meaningful in a multi-family structure.  Alternatives include:
  1. Use of POU filters (NSF compliant) for period of time typical of single-family units in community. ​Filters would be needed for each unit.
  2. Offer a temporary water supply (e.g., connect the building to a temporary supply line, bottled water).