Accommodation providers urged to guard against legionella

WaterSafe, the national register of approved plumbers, reminds student accommodation providers to act against Legionella as they prepare to open their doors to students this month.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, property managers have a legal duty to assess the risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria and take preventative action.

Larger buildings, such as student halls of residence, should have a water safety plan to protect against bacteria or potential contaminants.

To reduce the risk of students contracting Legionnaires’ disease, those in charge of maintaining student halls of residence must flush out any stagnant water within the building’s pipework.

Warm stagnant water has the potential to support the growth of microorganisms including Legionella bacteria - with the summer break creating ideal conditions for bacteria to grow.

Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by inhaling droplets of water, such as from the spray of a shower or hose. Although rate, it can cause serious illness or death, particularly in the elderly or those with health conditions.

WaterSafe recommends landlords and facilities managers follow five simple steps to help prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria:

1. Make sure boilers are set to store hot water at 60 degrees Celsius

2. If the building has been empty, systematically run the hot and cold water taps throughout the building, to flush out stagnant water

3. Avoid debris getting into the system by making sure cold-water cisterns (tanks) have tight-fitting lids

4. Use a WaterSafe-approved plumber for any work to internal plumbing or water supply pipes and ask them to identify and remove any redundant pipework; stagnant water in pipework will encourage bacteria to grow

5. Only use compliant fittings and water products, approved by bodies such as BSI, KIWA, NSF or WRAS.

Julie Spinks, Director at WaterSafe said: “While contracting Legionnaires’ disease is thankfully rate, it can present serious health risks and is easily prevented by following our five top tips.

“Data from the Drinking Water Inspectorate shows that more than 99.97 per cent of drinking water supplied to homes and businesses is free from bacteria and other harmful substances, but we all have a part to play in keeping it that way.

“Legionella can grow when properties are out of use for several weeks or months, so the start of the academic year is the perfect time to give your property a legionella MOT to keep residents safe from harm.”

Find out more on our property MOT page.