Premise Plumbing Policy Statement – Revised

AWWA Policy: Premise Plumbing – Revised

July 20, 2023

The following revised AWWA Policy Statement on Premise Plumbing has been approved by a Technical and Educational Council  Ad Hoc Committee for member comment. 
Comments on the policy statement will be reviewed by AWWA staff and forwarded to the Executive Committee if the comments are minor or referred back to the originating body if the comments are substantive. Policies forwarded to the Executive Committee will be reviewed for approval and final action.

Premise Plumbing Policy Statement – Revised 

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is committed to protecting public health by partnering with utilities and those who design, build, and operate all aspects of building potable water systems to deliver high quality drinking water from source to point-of-use. Goals for high quality drinking water include surpassing regulatory standards, maintaining aesthetics (such as taste, odors, or appearance) and supporting a long service life for plumbing materials.  

To achieve these goals, AWWA promotes implementing the highest standards in public water systems, actions that maintain water quality in plumbing systems, and communications with customers about how to keep their water safe and aesthetically pleasing. Specific topic areas where these actions and communications fall include reducing metals exposure and controlling opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella.

AWWA encourages utilities to establish comprehensive policies and operational goals designed to facilitate protection of water quality in premise plumbing. Furthermore, AWWA encourages collaboration among utilities, public health agencies, property owners, and other stakeholders to develop measures for maintaining water quality in premise plumbing. 

Premise plumbing water quality is a shared responsibility between the water utility and plumbing system designers, plumbing contractors, and property owners/operators. As part of our effort to maintain water quality from source to point-of-use, AWWA and its volunteer drinking water quality professionals engage and collaborate with architects, plumbing design engineers, building code developers, and others to optimize design and construction practices, and reduce building water quality risks. AWWA supports outreach and development of materials to inform and educate property owners and water consumers about how to maintain water quality in premise plumbing.  

Practices specified in this policy statement are consistent with all other pertinent AWWA policy statements.
Adopted by the Executive Committee on October 24, 2018.

Submit comments by August 21, 2023.