Legionella Prevention Starts with Commercial Water Treatment
Legionella and Water Testing
The water born disease Legionella or legionnaire's disease can be a threat to your business that you may not be aware of. Legionnaire's disease occurs when people are infected by a water based bacteria that can also get into the air.
The name legionnaire's disease refers to the fact that the disease was first detected at a convention of a US veteran's group called the American Legion. Legionnaire's disease can infect water supplies, air conditioning systems, restaurant equipment, drinking fountains, cooking facilities and anything else that comes into contact with water. Dozens or hundreds of people can be infected at once.
Hotels, restaurants, private clubs and other facilities that operate their own water systems need to be concerned about Legionella. These establishments need to be testing their water for Legionella on a regular basis.
Water Testing and Legionella
Establishments can prevent outbreaks of Legionella by testing for the bacteria that causes it. Having a risk assessment of a water system done by a qualified firm can also lessen the risk of a Legionella outbreak.
The testing of water systems at many private facilities for Legionella is now mandated by law in the UK. In most situations water will have to be tested for the bacteria every two years. Water will also have to be tested every time a facility has major work done to its water system.
Establishments that do not do this testing can face fines, prosecutions and the possibility of being shut down by an Environmental Health Officer. Such action can occur in the case of an outbreak of Legionella. It can also occur if an EHO visits your facility and finds no records indicating that such testing has been done.
This means that establishments such as hotels, nursing care homes and private clubs that operate their own water systems will have to test for Legionella. It also means that the water system will have to be in compliance with current standards.
A business can determine if its system is in compliance by having a risk analysis of its system done by a qualified commercial water services company. Such a company can do the testing and take the actions necessary to eliminate the threat of Legionella.
Legionella is Not the End of the World
Detection of Legionella or another bacteriological contaminant does not have to spell disaster for a business. The proper use of legal chemicals can kill the bacteria and make the water safe to drink again.
A commercial services company will be able to test the water, detect any contaminants and take action to get rid of them. The company should also be able to do any repairs or refurbishment to your water system necessary to prevent outbreaks in the future.
Responsible business owners and managers need to be aware of the threat of Legionella and take action to prevent it. The main action needed will to conduct proper water testing to identify the threat with help of
Water Risk Assessment Management Programmes. This testing should always be performed by a qualified commercial water services company.
Legionella Prevention Starts with Commercial Water Treatment
By: Robart Alex
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