How to prevent Legionella contamination: a guide for Facility Managers
IAS
Agriculture
Environment
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious, lung-based illness caused by exposure to water contaminated with the Legionella bacterium (Legionella contamination). Common symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle pain, typically appearing 2-10 days after exposure. Although rare, this disease can be fatal, especially in individuals with underlying health conditions, if not treated promptly with antibiotics. In fact, this disease is deadly for around 1 in 10 people who contract it.
Legionella contamination is often associated with hotels and resorts, leisure centres, and retirement homes. Whilst these environments may never experience an outbreak, it’s still important to understand how it may happen and how to prevent it spreading.
Read on to learn more about how Legionella contamination occurs, key responsibilities for Facility Managers, and how IAS Laboratories can help.
How does Legionella contamination occur?
The Legionella bacterium often thrives in water systems that are not properly maintained. Legionella contamination can start from the source water, such as bore wells or mains, and can proliferate in storage tanks and water supply networks within buildings. Poorly maintained water systems significantly increase the risk of Legionnaire’s disease.
In businesses with high customer turnover and footfall, like hotels, the risk of contamination is high. Any part of a hotel that has water present carries a risk of exposure, including:
- Shower heads and taps
- Swimming pools and hot tubs
- Cooling towers and air conditioning
- Condensers
- Indoor fountains and water features
- Food displays that use humidified air
- Misting and irrigation systems.
There is a greater chance of contamination spread if the temperature of these water sources is warm—between 20-45oC. It’s also important to note that water pipes that are rarely used are more at risk as bacteria can grow in systems that are corroded, dirty or covered in biofilm.
Key responsibilities for Facility Managers: how to prevent Legionella contamination
Facility managers and owners of hotels, guest houses, sports facilities, retirement homes, and similar establishments have a critical responsibility to manage the risks associated with Legionella contamination. Health & safety professionals recognise that Legionnaires’ disease is preventable as long as correct control procedures are followed. So, it’s very important that every business has an active programme in place to control the growth of the bacteria and ensure a safe environment for staff, visitors, contractors, and the general public.
Not only is it important to control Legionella contamination to help safeguard health, but to ensure compliance with regulations. For example, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 in Ireland states that employers (owners, managers, supervisors etc) have a duty of care to provide clean water for their employees, patients and customers. This is in the form of general welfare requirements, sanitary and washing facilities, protection against electric shock in fault conditions, provision of safety signs, and adequate clothing in specific conditions involving water. For more information, you can read the regulations here.
If this is you, here’s your checklist for preventing or controlling Legionella contamination:
- Regular maintenance: ensure that all water systems are regularly inspected and maintained. This includes checking storage tanks, pipes, and any areas where water may be stagnant, as well as ensuring cold water is kept cold and hot water is kept circulating to prevent stagnation.
- Water testing: regular testing of water systems for Legionella with an accredited laboratory is crucial. Identifying potential contamination early can prevent outbreaks.
- Prompt action if contamination is found: if Legionella is detected, immediate steps should be taken to disinfect and remediate the water systems to prevent the bacteria from spreading.
- Training: general training should be given to all staff to ensure they understand how to spot and reduce the risk of Legionella contamination.
For more information on controlling and reducing the risk of Legionella contamination, read ELDSNet’s official technical document here.
How IAS can help: precise testing and expert advice
IAS Laboratories is accredited to perform a comprehensive list of water analyses, including total nitrogen, total phosphorus, ortho phosphate, suspended solids, microbiology, oil, fats and grease (OFG), and various other parameters. We are an INAB accredited laboratory with over 35 years’ expertise in water quality testing.
We offer:
- Precise testing for Legionella
- Expert advice on the best locations within your premises to collect water samples
- Expert advice on the necessary steps needed to mitigate the risk, based on the findings of our analysis
- Ongoing support and guidance to ensure your water systems remain safe and compliant with health regulations.
Our tests typically take 12-15 days, with results reported in colony-forming units per litre (cfu/L).
Additionally, this year’s persistent heavy rainfall has put private drinking sources like wells under significant pressure. As water levels rise, so does the risk of contamination from nutrient run off.
Whether you require public or private water analysis, we can help. Contact IAS on 059 9721022 or sales@iaslabs.ie for a quote.
To contact another Cawood business, click here.
References
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007