Water safety

What is legionella?

All water systems have the potential to pose a risk to your health when naturally occurring legionella bacteria multiply to dangerous levels. This can result in illnesses and even death https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionella

We take precautions to minimise this risk at the properties we manage, however you also have a part to play in ensuring your own safety. Legionella can multiply to dangerous levels when water rests at moderate temperatures. The key ways to minimising risk are to ensure that:

•  hot water stays hot

•  cold water stays cold

•  water is circulated

What you need to do

1) At least every six months you must descale and disinfect the shower head. Limescale provides food and shelter for bacteria.

2) If the property has been empty for a week, ensure both hot and cold water systems are flushed through by running all outlets for at least 2 minutes.

3) If there is a water outlet that is used only occasionally then flush it through by running it for at least two minutes every week. 

4) Do not interfere with the settings on your hot water system. The hot water should be set so that the water is heated to 60ºC once per day.

5) You must tell us if:

•  The cold water is still running warm after you have run it for a while. It should not be above 20°C.

•  The water coming out of the hot tap is not a sufficiently high temperature (50°C) after one minute.

•  There is any debris or discolouration in the water.

•  If you or any of your regular visitors are considered at higher risk (people over 45 years old, people with chronic respiratory or kidney disease, or anyone with an otherwise impaired immune system).