How to deal with Legionella?

Legionella is found naturally in water and soil, without being dangerous to us. The problem arises when the bacterium enters our water pipes, where it has the opportunity to grow and multiply. Concentrations can then become so high that the bacteria can cause serious lung disease. Recently, there have been several cases of Legionella outbreaks in Norway, which is why we’re sharing five tips on how to deal with the bacteria.

1) Don’t wait to take action

It’s important that you take action as soon as possible once the bacteria has been detected. This is to minimize the risk of infection. The longer you wait, the more it compromises your health and life.

The most common source of infection is the shower, which is why we have emergency showerheads with medical filters. The showerheads are very easy to install, have a service life of three months and mean that the showers do not have to be closed while the system is cleaned and disinfected.

ApurgoClean cleans and disinfects the entire water system once the accident has occurred. After this, we recommend implementing permanent measures, such as ^ApurgoM3.

2) Remember the cold water too

It is important to find out where the bacteria are located. Legionella thrives best between 20 and 50 degrees Celsius, but it is not always the case that the bacterium has established itself in hot water. It can also thrive in cold water that has stood still in pipes and reached the same temperature as the surroundings. If the building has been closed for a period of time, such as during the Christmas holidays, the bacteria have good growth opportunities.

Water samples will provide answers to where the bacteria are located and the extent of the bacterial level. We can assist with water sampling, carry out risk assessments and create an action plan for deviation management with recommended measures, and deliver products for permanent treatment.

3) Know who is in charge

Several laws and regulations regulate requirements for facilities that can cause legionella infection. The two most important are the Public Health Act and the Environmental Health Protection Regulations.

Both private and public companies must control environmental factors that can have an impact on people’s health. This applies, for example, to boards of condominiums and housing cooperatives, landlords, both private and commercial, and others. . Forskrift om miljørettet helseverns kapittel 3 handler om miljø- og helsekrav. Chapter 3a specifies specific requirements related to Legionella.

Operators and owners are responsible for ensuring that maintenance and control of water facilities is carried out in accordance with legislation and recommendations.

The municipality has an independent responsibility to follow up preventive measures and routines at, for example, nursing homes and healthcare institutions. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has prepared a separate guide for healthcare personnel.

4) The best treatment is prevention

Many people have problems with Legionella coming back again and again. And again.
That’s why prevention is a crucial part of the process. With the right water treatment system, you can rest assured that you can clean up when you need to.

Choose ^ApurgoM3 for a permanent system that always ensures safe water in the future. The system connects directly to the water inlet and treats all consumer water in boilers and pipes. We use silver and copper ionization to kill Legionella and prevent bacterial blooms.

^ApurgoM3 is approved for drinking water treatment by FHI and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, and meets the requirements of the Biocidal Products Regulation.

5) Call a friend

Legionella takes time, money and resources to fight – you don’t have to go it alone.

We’ll help you every step of the way to ensure your building is safe to use and operate. Get in touch for a no-obligation chat about how Apurgo can help you.