Water hygiene safety
Water hygiene safety
Legionella bacteria are widespread in natural water systems, such as rivers and ponds.
Outbreaks of Legionnaire’s disease occur from exposure to legionella growing in hot and cold water systems, cooling towers and other water systems.
People contract the illness by inhaling small droplets of water containing the bacteria.
The risks from hot and cold water systems in most residential settings are generally considered to be low owing to regular water usage and turnover. A typical ‘low-risk’ example may be found in a small building (such as a housing unit) with small domestic-type water systems, where:
- daily water usage is inevitable and sufficient to turn over the entire system
- cold water is directly from a wholesome mains supply (no stored water tanks)
- hot water is fed from instantaneous heaters or low volume water heaters (supplying outlets at 50°C), and where the only outlets are toilets and wash hand basins
Source: Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease – HSE
Our role
We’re legally obliged to maintain a safe environment for residents and colleagues, within the home of each resident, and within all communal areas of buildings and other properties we own and/or manage.
We must deal with the risks associated with legionella bacteria. As far as is reasonably practicable, we must introduce measures to reduce and/or control exposure to legionella bacteria, including managing the conditions that support the growth of the bacteria in water systems. To do this:
- We carry out water risk assessments for all communal hot and cold-water systems, cooling plant and any other communal systems that can produce water droplets to identify and assess potential risks.
- We assess systems as high, medium, or low risk.
- We review legionella risk assessments every two years, or more frequently where a water system is likely to undergo change and is therefore a higher risk.
- We ensure written schemes of control are in place for all properties requiring controls to manage the risk of legionella exposure.
- We’ll use the legal options available within the terms of the tenancy and lease agreement should any resident, leaseholder, or shared owner refuse access to carry out essential water hygiene inspection and remediation works.
- We will do as much as is practically possible to provide reasonable adjustments or provide additional support to enable residents to better access and understand our services, including to complete safety checks.
Your role
- When requested, provide us with access to your home for our legally required water hygiene tests.
- Contact us if you have a question, concern or complaint.
More information
We are required to report on our residents’ satisfaction with safety checks, repairs and maintenance through the Tenant Satisfaction Measures. Read them here.
Read our Reasonable adjustments policy here.
Read water hygiene safety on the government website www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires.