Legionella bacteria causes Legionnaires’ disease and is a form of pneumonia. Testing for this bacteria is essential, especially when a control limit such as temperature monitoring are out of specification.
Legionella Water Testing
We can test for legionella if there is a suspected issue, a period of equipment downtime, conditions have provided a nutrient for it to grow (such as rust) or if your monitored temperatures are out of guideline specifications.
Legionella can thrive in warm water above 20°C and below 50°C. It is a naturally occurring bacteria existing in all water systems. Guidance recommends keeping outlet temperatures for cold below 20°C, and for hot, above 50 °C.
Our technicians will attend and take a water sample from various points in your system, bespoke to your setup, and can even return a same day result with rapid legionella testing.
Legionella Water Treatment
If your legionella test proves to be positive, then we will provide recommended remedial action. Guidance varies depending on the group and count of legionella found.
Next steps could involve additional sampling to locate the problem, local disinfection and resampling, or full system disinfection and resampling.
Legionella Prevention
It is much better to preventatively manage legionella. Through site-specific legionella training, you can ensure that your staff are carrying out temperature monitoring and following guidance that keeps your site and supply safe.
Opal can also support you with legionella risk assessments, identifying and managing the risks specific to this issue. This is particularly useful for:
- Hotels
- Facilities management
- Hospitals and care homes
- Schools