Legionella is a bacteria, which can grow in stored or stagnant water under certain conditions
Inhalation of infected spray or droplets or water vapour can result in Legionnaire’s disease. This is a type of pneumonia which may be mild and flu-like, but can become more serious.
Our commitment to you
- If you have a communal water supply (that means the water tanks supply more than one home), we will carry out a legionella risk assessment every two years. A 5% sample of other properties is undertaken each year. If there is any risk to your safety, then we will take any action needed.
- Most of our properties, particularly homes with water supplied direct from the mains to combination boilers, will be very low risk. However, we may want to check water temperatures or take water samples for testing.
- Depending on these results we may need to clean your water system or change your piping layout to reduce risk. If your boiler needs replacing it may be changed to a combination boiler to avoid the need to store water, as this can reduce the risk of legionella.
- We carry out periodic water risk assessments of our properties. These assessments are to ensure that the water system in your home meets safety regulations.
Further details are set out in our Legionella Management Plan, please contact our Health and Safety Lead for a copy.
You can find out more about the guidelines we are expected to follow in relation to water safety on the Health and Safety Executive’s website.
What you can do to stay safe
If you have a communal water tank or water comes from an individual tank rather than from the mains supply:
- Do not drink water from bathroom taps. You should only drink water from the kitchen cold water tap.
- If water outlets are not used at least weekly, then run them for a minimum of two minutes before use.
- Outside taps should also be flushed through before use if not used on a regular basis.
- If you have been away from home for more than a week, we advise you to run water outlets for two minutes before use.
- Water from storage butts should not be used for spraying from a hose or as a supply for jet washers.
- Clean and descale shower heads on a quarterly basis or when you notice a visible build-up of limescale.
- Regularly clean and de-scale your taps to prevent the build-up of limescale, which bacteria can grow on.
Important notice for clients on dialysis
If you are receiving dialysis, please let us know so we can make our maintenance team aware. In housing with communal tanks some of the chemicals used to make sure your water supply is safe can be present in trace amounts even when the system has been completely flushed through. These are entirely harmless to most people but can potentially be harmful to those on dialysis.
If you are receiving dialysis, please let us know by contacting the Transform Repairs Team on 0800 389 5224 or email repairs@transformhousing.org.uk.