Novel approaches to reducing water leaks

In the era where we have tightly sealed buildings filled with particle and chemical-emitting materials, and with recirculating air inside rather than natural ventilation, the concept of "sick building syndrome" or "building-related illness" has gained significance and popularity in recent years.

Illnesses that possibly originate from living in such buildings include infections (e.g., tuberculosis and legionellosis), allergic reactions due to indoor allergens (e.g., dust mites and fungal products), irritative reactions due to chemicals, and poisonings (such as that due to carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke or exhaust fumes).

In addition to these well-defined clinical pathologies, non-specific symptoms have also been related to living in such buildings. Headache, fatigue, difficulty in concentration, memory loss, irritation of the skin and oral and nasal mucous membranes are among these non-specific complaints.

Focusing more on fungal products, fungi can lead to allergic reactions following inhalation of the mould particles. They can also result in toxicosis following ingestion of the mould-contaminated foods (clearly the best documented scenario) or inhalation of the mycotoxins (plausible, but less well understood). The most popular mycotoxins are ergot toxin of Claviceps purpurea, aflatoxin of Aspergillus flavus, and the trichothecene mycotoxins of Stachybotrys.

Several moulds, such as Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Cladosporium can inhabit buildings where excess indoor moisture is present due to problems in mechanical system design, construction, and operational strategies. The relative risk of environmental exposure to these fungi and their mycotoxins in relation to sick building syndrome is not well defined.

Nonetheless, current data suggest that the existence of these moulds, together with other factors, can play a role in development of at least some building-related illnesses. Thus, measures to prevent mould growth in buildings are now a current concern.

Since moisture is the major factor that leads to mould growth, preventive measures focused on control of water and water leaks have emerged. Moisture may accumulate in buildings based on water leaks from pipes, leaks through the building framework, or condensation. While there is no one approach to monitoring all of these causes of water entry, and certainly no assurances that detection of water leaks will eliminate all possibilities of mould growth.

One approach to the problem of identifying water leaks was developed by FloLogic Inc. of Raleigh, N.C. which includes a novel device called the FloLogic System that monitors water flow in houses and shuts off the water to the house at the main line if it detects water flow that has continued for more than a predetermined time. Interestingly, the company is supported by Melinda Ballard, who was forced to flee her home in Texas due to mould growth.

Mrs. Ballard sued her insurer for not paying for the repairs that would have eliminated the moisture and thus the mould growth. She was eventually awarded a jury verdict of $32 million which was later reduced to $4 million. Mrs. Ballard used a part of her award from that trial to fund FloLogic for introduction of this device.

Although doubtless not a cure-all for leaking pipes, the concept identifying water leaks when they start does have a certain appeal.