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LEED v2009
Existing Building Operations
Water Efficiency
Cooling Tower Water Management

LEED CREDIT

EBOM-2009 WEc4: Cooling Tower Water Management 1-2 points

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Credit language

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Requirements

WE credit 4.1 (1 point): Chemical management
Develop and implement a water management plan for the cooling tower or evaporative condenser that addresses chemical treatment, bleed-off, biological control and staff training as it relates to cooling tower maintenance. Improve water efficiency by installing and/or maintaining a conductivity meter and automatic controls to adjust the bleed rate and maintain proper concentration at all times.

AND/OR

WE credit 4.2 (1 point): Nonpotable water source use
Use makeup water that consists of at least 50% nonpotable water, such as harvested rainwater, harvested stormwater, air-conditioner condensate, swimming pool filter backwash water, cooling tower blowdown, pass-through (once-through) cooling water, recycled treated wastewater from toilet and urinal flushing, foundation drain water, municipally reclaimed water or any other appropriate on-site water source that is not naturally occurring groundwater or surface water. Have a measurement program in place that verifies makeup water quantities used from nonpotable sources. Meters must be calibrated within the manufacturer’s recommended interval if the building owner, management organization or tenant owns the meter. Meters owned by third parties (e.g., utilities or governments) are exempt. See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Addenda

2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
OROPTION 3. (2 points)Achieve both Options 1 and 2.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/14/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the third line of the third paragraph, replace "WE Credit 4, Option 2, Nonpotable Water Source Use" with "WE Credit 4.2 Cooling Tower Water Management - Nonpotable Water Source Use"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/14/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the last line of the first paragraph, replace "WE Credit 4, Option 2, Nonpotable Water Source Use" with "WE Credit 4.2 Cooling Tower Water Management - Nonpotable Water Source Use"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/6/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Delete the Alternative Compliance Path for Projects Outside the U.S. box.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
OROPTION 3. (2 points)Achieve both Options 1 and 2.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Replace all instances of "WE Credit 4" and "Credit 4" with "WE Credits 4.1 - 4.2" and "Credits 4.1 - 4.2" respectively
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Remove the following text:OROPTION 2. Nonpotable Water Source Use (1 point)Replace with:AND/ORWE Credit 4.2 (1 point): Nonpotable Water Source Use
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Remove the following text:OPTION 1. Chemical Management (1 point)Replace with:WE Credit 4.1 (1 point): Chemical Management
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/14/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the first line of the third paragraph, replace "WE Credit 4, Option 1, Chemical Management" with "WE Credit 4.1 Cooling Tower Water Management - Chemical Management"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/6/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Add "or evaporative condenser" after "cooling tower" in the first sentence.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Remove the following text:OROPTION 2. Nonpotable Water Source Use (1 point)Replace with:AND/ORWE Credit 4.2 (1 point): Nonpotable Water Source Use
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/6/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Add "or evaporative condenser" after "cooling tower"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/1/2010Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Remove the following text:OPTION 1. Chemical Management (1 point)Replace with:WE Credit 4.1 (1 point): Chemical Management
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Ashwini Arun

WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

WE credit 4.1 (1 point): Chemical management
Develop and implement a water management plan for the cooling tower or evaporative condenser that addresses chemical treatment, bleed-off, biological control and staff training as it relates to cooling tower maintenance. Improve water efficiency by installing and/or maintaining a conductivity meter and automatic controls to adjust the bleed rate and maintain proper concentration at all times.

AND/OR

WE credit 4.2 (1 point): Nonpotable water source use
Use makeup water that consists of at least 50% nonpotable water, such as harvested rainwater, harvested stormwater, air-conditioner condensate, swimming pool filter backwash water, cooling tower blowdown, pass-through (once-through) cooling water, recycled treated wastewater from toilet and urinal flushing, foundation drain water, municipally reclaimed water or any other appropriate on-site water source that is not naturally occurring groundwater or surface water. Have a measurement program in place that verifies makeup water quantities used from nonpotable sources. Meters must be calibrated within the manufacturer’s recommended interval if the building owner, management organization or tenant owns the meter. Meters owned by third parties (e.g., utilities or governments) are exempt.

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In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

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  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

LEEDuser expert

Ashwini Arun

WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Unsubscribe from discussions about EBOM-2009 WEc4