What is legionella?
Legionella is a pathogenic bacterium which is most commonly found in water. The bacteria can cause Legionnaire’s disease which is a type of pneumonia or a less serious illness called Pontiac fever which presents as mild flu-like symptoms.
The bacteria can multiply in water between 20-42 degrees centigrade – below 20 degrees the bacteria will remain dormant and above 60 degrees, the bacteria will not survive.
How can you be effected by legionella?
Legionnaire’s disease is uncommon but can be very serious; people catch the disease by inhaling water which contains the bacteria. The most common environments in which legionella is able to build up are in hospitals, offices and hotels – it is very rare to catch it at home.
How can legionella build-up be prevented?
If water is left stagnant and constantly remains at the optimum temperature, legionella will grow and multiply. Therefore, it is really important for companies and hospitals to maintain their building’s water management systems.
Legionella is most commonly caught through the following:
- Air conditioning units
- Hot tubs and spa pools
- Hot water tanks and heaters
- Decorative fountains
- Showers, taps and toilets
There are various ways in which legionella build-up can be prevented such us using chemicals like chlorine or installing a water temperature control system.
How can Chaps help?
One of our surveyors can visit your company’s building and carry out an extensive legionella risk assessment, we will then create a report and send this over to you. Once our report is received your business will then be able to take measurements to prevent the build-up of legionella in the water system.
You can then rest easy knowing that your employees and customers are safe.
For more information regarding our Legionella Risk Assessment service, please contact us today.
References:
Centers of Disease and Prevention