Despite the number of people asking about legionella testing, many of them aren’t actually sure what they’re asking for or why they need it!

That is why we’re here to try and help you understand whether your business can carry out this test or not.

Typically this confusion comes from a lack of knowledge in the area of water hygiene. While business owners and individuals alike know they have a responsibility to maintain this, it is rare that business owners have an understanding of water hygiene let alone the technicalities of it, so you’re not alone! Let us guide you through it.

Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between monitoring water systems for anomalies and for bacteria growth and analysing water samples scientifically in a lab.

Is a Legionella Risk Assessment required as a business owner?

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) does require business owners to “ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, clients, patients, customers, contractors, visitors and others”. Part of this safety measure does involve the safe maintenance of water including carrying out a Legionella risk assessment for your business. How thorough this assessment has to be is dependent on how large and/or complex your system is.

What is a Legionella Risk Assessment?

On the back of a Legionella risk assessment, your business will be recommended to monitor the system’s conditions on an ongoing basis. Some people will misinterpret this for testing itself. Monitoring includes reviewing temperature fluctuations in line with maintenance and inspections. However, this aspect does not include legionella testing directly. 

Because of this, certain situations do require lab based testing of your water, albeit rare, these circumstances include:

• If you have spa facilities
• Your water is privately supplied
• If your building contains a cooling tower
• Your business or building contains high risk individuals
• If your water system has a suspected or confirmed outbreak
• Or if Legionella testing is deemed necessary by observers

If it is essential your premises must undertake this type of testing, you need to understand from where and how often such samples should be collected. Unfortunately this is not a one size fits all answer. However, we can say that samples should be collected following strict guidance from the official framework and should go on to be analysed at an independent lab that is UKAS approved. 

Can a Legionella Risk Assessment give you the full picture?

Unfortunately not. It is important to remember that such results are just a snapshot of your wider water system as the sample size is likely to be small. It is unlikely that you will collect any bacteria in your sample even if your water system is infected due to its size. 

Therefore, it is more important that you have a well designed, operated and maintained water system that is compliant with legal requirements as opposed to relying on small samples to let you know if your system is legionella free. Professional Legionella risk assessments are available through companies like ourselves to help put your mind at ease and comply with legal requirements at all times.

Hopefully this article has highlighted how Legionella testing is carried out and what the necessary requirements are for your business. If you have any more questions feel free to contact us.

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How often should Legionella testing be carried out?

The frequency of legionella testing is determined by your most recent Water Hygiene Risk Assessment. Whether you’re the landlord or property manager, whoever is looking after the business premises is responsible for ensuring this is up to date. How often legionella testing is recommended can vary between risk assessments, therefore a good guide to work on is around every six months. As well as this an annual sample is recommended on commercial buildings.

Legionella testing recommendations from Health & Safety England.

Although the above can be used as guidance, the legal requirements may differ slightly depending on where your commercial building is located, its size and its frequency of use. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had outlined several instances where a Legionella test must take place. These include:

• If the hot and cold water system has suspected inefficiencies.
• If hot water and cold water are not always kept at optimum temperatures.
• If there is any doubt about disinfectant concentrations in the water.
• If the responsible person has deemed the water hygiene system high risk.

What does Legionella testing legislation say?

There are several pieces of legislation regarding Legionella testing. The ACoP L8 “The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems” and The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) both provide advice on legionella testing frequency. These documents exist to allow business owners and property managers to adhere to somewhat strict requirements in water hygiene.

As well as Legionella specific guidance, these pieces of legislation include frequency of water hygiene risk assessments in workplace settings. 

Which type of buildings are subject to regular Legionella testing?

There are many types of building and premises that should have Legionella testing carried out more than a typical domestic property. These tend to include commercial buildings that uses water for transactional purposes. 

If you are the business owner or property manager of any of the below businesses, you must stay up to date with relevant Legionella testing. These buildings include:

• Gyms and workout facilities
• Swimming pools 
• Leisure centres and spa facilities
• Hotels and holiday rentals
• Retail buildings
• Office blocks and business settings
• Doctors surgeries and hospitals
• Factories and warehouses

Can a business owner complete Legionella testing?

Depending on the complexity of your premises, it may be possible for yourself or a responsible person to complete your business’ Legionella testing. However it is commonly recommended to instruct a water hygiene specialist. 

This allows water hygiene screenings and Legionella testing to be completed by an expert. This expert can then follow up on any further required testing and risk assessment outcomes. When a water hygiene specialist, such as Aquastat, carries out your testing, you also have a peace of mind that your water systems meet current legal requirements.

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Water hygiene is one of the most important considerations when it comes to the smooth running of swimming pool facilities in leisure centres and gyms.

In addition to smooth running, there are also legal procedures that should be followed to ensure the facility is suitable for public use. This guidance is laid out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

What are the legal restrictions of water hygiene?

Duty holders for these facilities must comply with the HSE’s ACoP L8 and hold HSG274 supporting documents. This ensures the responsible people have the knowledge and documentation to comply with legal domestic water system regulations. Following this, the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group also lays out quality standards that spas and pools alike must follow. These guidelines are supported by the HSE’s HSG282.

Pool hygiene isn’t the only important area of water hygiene…

As well as maintaining standards of swimming pools, many other gym facilities involve water and therefore also demand its safe upkeep. Examples include spas, drinking fountains and hot tubs. The same level of pool hygiene should be applied to these facilities also. This is particularly crucial as these areas – if untreated – act as breeding ground for legionella bacteria.

How does poor water hygiene cause legionnaire’s disease?

A build up of legionella bacteria can develop into legionnaire’s disease in humans, which causes nasty symptoms. Therefore, it is crucial that any water tanks and pools are thoroughly cleaned and treated to prevent this disease.

Legionella is a natural bacterium that is organically found in natural water systems such as lakes as well as man-made water systems such as reservoirs. It typically breeds in conditions between 20*C and 45*C. Because of this is has previously been recommended that water systems are kept at 60*C, however, more recent research has demonstrated that some waterbourne bacteria such as Legionella can actually survive at this temperature also…

Therefore, now the HSE advises to keep water stores below 20*C at lower temperatures. However, this must include a water-system that is well maintained and has copper silver ionisation. The reason for the newly recommended lower temperature is that the colder conditions decrease the activity of the bacteria. The copper silver ionisation is also recommended to control the bacteria on a more chemical level.

Which other water systems need consideration?

As well as previously mentioned water coolers and spas, the water hygiene in showers in commercial areas should also be considered. Due to the number of people using showers pre and post workout or swim, this makes them another key area for legionella to spread.

Gyms and leisure centres should install water treatment methods that are reliable and hygienically proven. Then these systems should be thoroughly maintained to ensure a good level of hygiene in line with legislation. 

We hope this gives you a good understanding of water hygiene and why it is necessary as well as the key risk areas in which Legionella can spread.

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