Legionella
Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease.
The risk of infection increases with age, but some people are at higher risk. These include:
- people aged over 45
- smokers and heavy drinkers
- those suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease, diabetes, lung or heart disease
- anyone with an impaired immune system.
The bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers.
They may also be found in air conditioning systems, humidifiers and hot tubs, as well as taps and showers that aren’t used very often.
You can get Legionnaires’ disease if you breathe in tiny droplets of water containing the bacteria that cause the infection.
It’s usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals or offices. It’s uncommon to catch it at home.
You can’t usually get it from:
– drinking water that contains the bacteria
– other people who have the infection
– places like ponds, lakes and rivers.
Symptoms include:
– a cough
– shortness of breath
– a high temperature
– flu-like symptoms
– chest pain or discomfort, especially when breathing or coughing.
Treatment may include antibiotics, oxygen or a machine to help you breathe.
The risk of Legionella causing illness in our customers’ homes is very low indeed.
Possibly the biggest risk is when you’ve been away from home for more than a week, or if you have taps, showers or toilets that aren’t used on a daily basis.
We would encourage you to:
– Run all taps and shower heads for at least 60 seconds every week to make sure you don’t have water standing still in pipes.
– Clean showers heads and taps of scale and debris every three to six months.
– Keep the hot water on your boiler system at a temperature of minimum 50°C to 60°C.
– Flush the toilet twice weekly with the lid down to circulate fresh water through the system and empty the cistern.
– Report any problems you may have with your hot water system as soon as possible.
– Disconnect and empty any hosepipes when not in use.
– Not to attach items that create spray to a water butt (if you have one).
Warning: beware of scalding!
Owners and managers of private rented properties have a legal duty of care to ensure that their tenants and visitors can use the property safely. The Health & Safety Executive is the government body responsible for water hygiene and Legionnaires’ disease. Further advice and information can be viewed on their website www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires
