Legionnaires’ Disease - Prevention

 

There are no vaccines that can prevent Legionnaires’ disease. Instead, the crucial key to preventing Legionnaires’ disease is to make sure that building owners and managers maintain building water systems in order to reduce the risk of Legionella growth and spread, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

 

Examples of building water systems that might grow and spread Legionella include: 

 

• Hot tubs/pools 

• Hot water tanks and heaters 

• Large plumbing systems 

• Cooling towers (structures that contain water and a fan as part of centralized air-cooling systems for building or industrial processes) 

• Decorative fountains 

 

While controls in place may need to be adapted to changing circumstances, Duty Holders must still be able to demonstrate control of risk. 

Legionella bacteria can grow and spread in water systems at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, where a suitable nutrient source is available, and where turnover of water is low. As many businesses increasingly move to homeworking arrangements during the Coronavirus pandemic, the demand for water in many commercial buildings will be significantly reduced. As demand is reduced the risk of low turnover and stagnation increases. With lower turnover we can also see increases in water temperatures as pipes warm to ambient levels. This risk can be further increased as the availability of maintenance staff and engineers is reduced through illness, isolation or travel restrictions. 

 

You are therefore advised to continue to provide access to your site to enable you or your trusted engineers to maintain Legionella testing and monitoring. 

 

GES Water can offer a total risk analysis and Legionella control programme for owners and managers. A simple risk assessment booked with GES Water's team of professional Risk Assessors will help you manage and identify any risks of Legionella and manage them effectively. 

 

Visit our website to book in your Risk Assessment or call us on 0800 121 8808.