Legionella

Legionella is a bacterium that naturally exists in low numbers in all water supplied to homes and causes Legionellosis. The disease is a kind of pneumonia that could be fatal. It can affect anybody, but mainly affects people who are vulnerable due to age, illness, a lowered immune system or smoking.

It can live in water systems storage tanks, pipe work, taps and showers. The risk of legionella is very low, but you can take steps to avoid it.

The risk is greater if your home is left unoccupied for example after returning from a long break (more than one week).

photo of a running tap. How to reduce the risk:

• Ensure that cold water is stored at below 20°C, and hot water is above 50°C at the outlets.

• Keep water cisterns covered, insulated and clean from debris.

• Ensure that pipe work is insulated.

• When you return from a long break, run your shower (where fitted) and all taps continuously for two minutes (this flushes out any bacteria).

• To minimise the risk of creating a fine spray carrying legionella in the air, showers should only be discharged carefully into the drain.

• Shower heads should be cleaned at least every three months.

• Report any defects of the system to us without delay. Defects could include the cold water running warm (after the tap has been running for two minutes) or the hot water running tepid

(after the tap has been running for one minute).

What we do to reduce the risk:

• Before you move into your new home we test the water systems to ensure that it meets the current standards.

• Where we are responsible for large water storage tanks such as in a block of flats that supply more than one home, we carry out regular checks of these systems, and ensure that any identified problems are sorted without delay.