Water hygiene in your home
Legionella is a bacteria that can cause pneumonia-like illnesses. It cannot be caught by drinking contaminated water, to be harmful the bacteria needs to be inhaled through unseen droplets of water in the air.
Whilst the risk of contracting the legionella bacteria is very low, some people are at higher risk, including:
- people over 45 years of age
- smokers
- people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease
- anyone with an impaired immune system
Where can legionella bacteria be found?
Wherever there is a water supply, there is the chance that legionella bacteria are present. They can be found in natural water sources like rivers, lakes and ponds. They can also be present in the artificial water systems in your homes and gardens such as:
- hot and cold water systems and drinking water systems
- storage tanks
- pipes
- baths, taps and showers
- humidifiers
- garden hosepipes
- lawn sprinklers or watering systems
The risk of legionnaire's disease
The risk in your home is low because your water is usually stored in small quantities and is used daily. This means that the bacteria do not usually have time to multiply to significant levels.
Risk can increase if a property has been empty for long periods of time, for example when tenants leave and the property is not immediately re-occupied.
Risk can also increase when you go on holiday for a week or more.
Where water systems are not used for long periods of time, the legionella bacteria is allowed to multiply in these systems. Legionella can then be spread through aerosol droplets created by turning on taps, showers and hoses that have not been used recently.
How do I reduce the risk of legionella?
The risk of legionella is small however you should take the following actions in your home to minimise this risk:
- Run your shower or bath continuously for a minimum of 5 minutes at least once a week, this may already happen when someone is bathing. If you mostly use either a bath or shower, remember to run the other outlet which is used less often.
- Keep your water cistern covered, insulated, clean and free of debris
- Maintain hot water temperatures at a minimum of 60c, but remember while raising temperatures of the water can control legionella growth. It can also increase the risk of burns and scalds – please take care, especially if you have children.
- Shower heads and taps should be clear of excessive lime scale and cleaned regularly
- Ensure any taps which are not normally used are flushed regularly, for example, outside taps
- External garden hoses should be disconnected from the tap and drained when not in use for over a week and stored in a cool place. When using for the first time after putting away for a season they should be flushed through carefully without producing aerosol (fine breathable water droplets).
- Removing the hose spray attachment can also reduce the risk
- Once you have used your garden hose disconnect from the tap and drain hose fully
- Do not remove insulation from cold water storage tanks if you have one
- Regularly clean taps and shower heads to remove all scale build up
Although it sounds scary, legionella bacteria can be prevented (removed, cleaned away) easily by following the tips above.
Further information
If you are worried about legionella and would like to speak to somebody about your concerns, contact us through your My Tenancy account or message us on our Facebook page – Swindon Housing.