Legionella Testing for Your Water Systems

What is Legionella?

Legionella is a bacteria that is most commonly found in natural water sources and thrives in warm, moist environments, making water systems highly susceptible to contamination. If water droplets containing Legionella are ingested, they can cause Legionnaires disease, a serious illness that can be fatal. A complete strategy from a water management company is necessary to prevent Legionella contamination in your water systems.

How to Prevent Legionella in Your Water System

Preventing Legionella bacteria in your water systems requires a multi-step approach, including regular maintenance, monitoring, and testing.

1. Implement a Comprehensive Water Safety Plan

Working with a water management company to complete a water safety plan is the foundation of Legionella prevention. The plan should outline all water systems in your facility, identify potential areas where Legionella could grow, and establish clear monitoring, testing, and maintenance procedures.

2. Regular Monitoring and Testing

Continuous monitoring and regular testing of your water systems allow you to detect any potential Legionella early, making it easier to contain and treat. This step involves testing water samples from various points within your water system, especially in areas where water tends to be stagnant.

3. Routine Cleaning and Disinfection

Scheduled cleaning and disinfection of your water systems, such as cooling towers, are essential to preventing Legionella. Removing scale, sludge and biofilms that can hold bacteria, combined with the regular use of disinfectants, helps reduce the likelihood of Legionella and other bacteria.

4. Control Water Flow and Prevent Stagnation

Stagnant water is a breeding ground for Legionella and other bacteria. To help prevent water stagnation, you should be sure that every part of your water system is regularly used or flushed. If any parts of your system are not used for longer periods of time, it is best to implement periodic flushing to keep the water moving.

The Importance of Regular Water Testing

An important part of any Legionella prevention strategy is regular water testing. Continuous water testing is necessary to prevent potential issues and intervene if needed, as Legionella can contaminate and spread very quickly within your water system and potentially cause an outbreak.

Best Practices for Legionella Testing

Survey Water Systems: Conduct surveys of water systems in your building to assess risk.
Develop a Water Safety Plan: Develop a water safety plan to control the growth of Legionella.
Regular Monitoring: Implement regular monitoring and maintenance schedules to quickly identify and address potential Legionella risks.

Why You Need a Water Safety Plan

A water safety plan is essential for maintaining and protecting your building’s water systems. The goal of a water safety plan is to minimize the risk of Legionella growth and to prevent an outbreak. The plan identifies areas within your water systems that are at risk for Legionella growth and outlines protocols for regular testing and risk management.

What’s in a Water Safety Plan from a Water Management Company

See how WMC’s water safety plan and water management programs can break down your existing water system, provide insights into your risk areas, and treat any hazards.

Team Identification: Identify on-site and external Water Management and Safety Team.
System Inventory: Take inventory of all key water systems and components.
Hazard Assessment: System hazard assessment with clearly defined characteristics and risk levels.
Flow Diagrams: Visual diagrams highlighting water flow and significant hazard points.
Risk Control: Control measures to monitor and minimize the risk of identified hazards.
Maintenance Schedule: Tailored operation and maintenance scheduled for water systems.