855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 183

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Core and Shell projects must also install meters for future tenant spaces so that tenants will be capable of independently metering water consumption in their spaces. These projects must also install a sufficient number of meters to capture total potable water use with a minimum of one per floor.

Facility managers and/or tenants must have access to the real-time data via the project’s local network, BMS, cloud service, web-based application, or an online database.

Indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings Most projects have indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings. Water use from water closets and lavatories represents a significant amount of a building’s total water consumption for many project types. Additionally, leaks from indoor fixtures and fittings often go unnoticed until water damage occurs on walls, ceilings, or floors.

Projects must submeter at least 80% of the total indoor fixtures and fittings, as identified in WEp2: Minimum Water Efficiency .

Depending on the distribution piping and the metering strategy, projects can directly meter water consumption from indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings or calculate the consumption by subtracting all other subsystems from the total water consumption of the building and the grounds.

Irrigation systems Projects that include permanently installed irrigation systems must meter the irrigation water use. This includes any potable or alternative water sources used for the project.

In many cases, irrigation systems require additional submeters to meet the data recording requirements. While a utility-owned irrigation meter captures the total consumption of the system, hourly recording and reporting to BMS, cloud service, or online database is not typical. Teams must confirm meter capabilities and include additional devices when necessary.

Tracking the water used by irrigation systems allows operators to identify leaking or inefficient sprinkler heads. It can also identify underground pipe leaks, which are often unresolved until visual inspections observe damp areas on the site.

Make-up water systems Make-up water requirements vary by system and project. Systems that require make-up may include cold water inlets for the domestic hot water system, swimming pools, chilled water systems, or other processes.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 173