Legionella is a clever bacteria that can be found in any water system including systems with or without cold water storage tanks. There are many reasons why Legionella grows in a water system, these include: areas of little use allowing water to stagnate, temperatures between 20-50°C, nutrients such as debris, limescale, foreign bodies. Materials that encourage growth such as rusted steel, rubber, and lead. Non water regulations advisory scheme (WRAS) fittings that do not comply water regulation standards to name a few. This means that whether you have one or two hundred sinks, or you have mains water supply, a combi boiler and no tank, that you still need a legionella risk assessment as all water systems have the potential to breed harmful bacteria such as legionella, E.coli, coliforms and the like.
Our best advise is that control and prevention is better than the cure. Beat Legionella by controlling and preventing growth, avoiding expensive and unnecessary remedial works and disinfections. By undertaking a risk assessment, remediating the risks found, and undertaking your monitoring requirements set out by the HSE, in the HSG 274 part 2, you’ll help minimise the risk of exposure to Legionella and avoid expensive reactive works to remove Legionella by taking action before grows.
