Written By: Canadian Water Compliance | On
Research suggests that anywhere from eight to eighteen thousand people in Canada need hospital care every year due to Legionnaires’ disease. Most people infected by the Legionella bacteria will suffer from pneumonia because the bacteria grows and thrives in the lungs. Since the Legionella bacteria is commonly found naturally in freshwater, many people contract the bacteria by inhaling the bacteria in contaminated building water supplies, cooling towers, pools, hot tubs, and fountains. The exposure takes place when people breathe in evaporated water or mist containing the bacteria.
The most comprehensive way to reduce the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, of course, is to design, implement and regularly update an overall building water safety plan. But that is hardly a solution when you are already inhabiting the building. Once it grows, Legionella can potentially spread through any component in the plumbing system that generates a fine mist of water. Large complex plumbing systems are most prone to outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease and are especially hazardous for at-risk people with weaker immunity.
So, to help you avoid some basic errors that could prove to be costly, Canadian Water Compliance has put together a list of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a legionella risk mitigation program.
1. Assuming that if it’s invisible, it’s not there
The bacteria responsible for most cases of Legionnaires’ disease, Legionella, is a microorganism, which means it is too small to be visible to the naked eye. That does not mean that it does not exist. Legionella bacteria can multiply in water systems such as air conditioners.
Although it’s entirely possible to get Legionnaires’ disease from home plumbing systems, most outbreaks have occurred in large buildings due to complex systems that allow the bacteria to grow and thrive more easily.
2. Going for the cheapest way to achieve the minimum standard
The general philosophy is simple, and if it’s cheap, it probably is not good enough. The same applies to your Legionella risk mitigation program too. With an in-depth understanding of the underlying conditions that put your facility at risk, you can choose an effective water management program.
3. Thinking you are already doing their best
Once the presence of Legionella and its levels have been confirmed, opting for a sanitization procedure is recommended. This comprises proprietary bio-dispersants to penetrate biofilm and microbial deposits, which reduces the risk of a Legionella outbreak. Unlike the risk of COVID-19 that can be reduced by washing hands and social distancing, Legionella can only be avoided with expert intervention. Therefore, opting for a professional Legionella water testing and monitoring company is recommended.
4. Being overly dependent on your water treater
If the water treater had been doing its job of mitigating the Legionella risk, in all obviousness, you wouldn’t be looking for a solution. Chlorine used in water treaters is not very effective at controlling Legionella. Lower concentrations of chlorine can kill a pure culture of Legionella in a jar in a laboratory. However, in the environment, especially a plumbing system, much stronger concentrations are required to reduce Legionella growth.
To avoid making these and other common mistakes when choosing a Legionella risk mitigation program, reach out to Canadian Water Compliance, a Legionella water testing and monitoring company in Toronto, Ontario. We test, monitor, and certify you “Legionella free.” Our certified and experienced team takes responsibility for compliance off your shoulders and into ours. We’ve partnered with the leading Legionella lab in Canada and use the most scientifically accurate testing available. So please sit back and relax; we’ve got you covered. We offer our services across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, London, Kitchener, Niagara, St. Catharines, Sarnia, Windsor, Guelph, Waterloo, Owen Sound, Collingwood, Barrie, Wasaga Beach, Midland, Parry Sound, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Minden, Oshawa, Peterborough, Coburg, Belleville, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal and the surrounding areas.
For a complete list of our services, please click here. If you have any questions about water disinfecting, bacteria testing, legionella testing lab and risk assessment services, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us here.
