This chapter focuses on the health issues related to the application of Water
Saving Systems (WSS) in buildings. It stars by showing the environmental and
economic advantages of these systems and then presents the main obstacles to their
large-scale implementation: concerns about water quality, the security of the users and
the implications on the public infrastructures. For these reasons, it is important to
carefully study this question, list all health issues related to the use of WSS and show
how they can be minimized and avoided. The base for this chapter is several feasibility
studies, made in different types of buildings, and population surveys showing concerns
about the user’s security. Studies about water quality in existing WSS are also
presented, as well as important security measures presented in international legislation
and standards. The conclusions allow us to understand if this question is being properly
discussed (if all the main problems are being covered), which measures are being
applied and if others are needed.
Keywords: water efficiency, rainwater, greywater, advantages, obstacles, public
perception, health issues, contamination, security, maintenance.
