When it comes to residential green buildings, water quality is a crucial consideration. We often focus on water conservation and preventing moisture issues, but the quality of the water we use is equally important. This is particularly true in light of recent concerns about fluoride and other contaminants in our water supply.

When it comes to health, the quality of our water is a significant factor. Recent concerns about fluoride, lead, PFAS, radon, and dioxin in our water supply have highlighted the need for greater scrutiny. Fluoride, in particular, which is intentionally added to our water, has been associated with lower IQs in children and is raising serious health concerns.

This is why, several years ago, we added the water quality assessment and water filtration requirement into our GreenStar Homes program as part of one of the higher certification levels. It requires you to evaluate your local water and implement remediation efforts to deal with local water risks. In areas with groundwater, that might be sodium or other risks from shallow wells, and in the city, it might be fluoride. If your home is connected to a city water supply, you will likely need to remediate fluoride from the water until it is no longer added to water.