24.14 Legionella Prevention in Water Systems

A podcast with various aspects of legionella prevention in drinking water installations, ranging from design and construction to management and maintenance. The thermal management concept is crucial, whereby the water temperature must be at least 60°C to kill legionella. Preventing hotspots and correctly dimensioning pipes are essential to avoid stagnant water. The choice of materials is also important; these must comply with the Waterwerkbladen. For effective management, regular temperature control, flushing of pipes and periodic thermal disinfection are necessary. For collective installations, a risk analysis and a management plan are mandatory. Alternative techniques such as UV light, membrane filtration and pasteurisation can be used if thermal management is not possible. Important documents such as revision drawings and test reports must be available. There is a shared responsibility between drinking water companies and installation companies for hygienic delivery, and residents must be well informed about the correct use and maintenance. Further information can be found in Waterwerkbladen and ISSO publications.