Legionella Water Testing Requirements

Centers for medicare medicaid services.

Legionella water testing requirements. Legionella can adversely impact public health. The water management program team should regularly monitor water quality parameters such as disinfectant and temperature levels. The type of test required will depend on the nature of the water of the system. When inhaled small water droplets or mist that contains legionella can cause infection in people which can result in two.

Developing and maintaining a water management program is a multi step process that requires continuous review. Healthcare specific guidelines and requirements. The following resources may be useful when trying to understand what the. Legionella can grow and spread in artificial and human made water systems such as hot tubs cooling towers hot water tanks decorative fountains and large buildings with complex water systems.

Legionella bacteria can be found throughout the world mostly in aquatic and moist environments e g lakes rivers ground water and soil. By monitoring these parameters the team can ensure that building water systems are operating in a way to minimize hazardous conditions that could encourage legionella and other waterborne pathogens to grow. Cdc estimates that 8 000 to 18 000 people are hospitalized with legionnaires disease each year in the u s. Legionella risk assessment legal requirements explained there is a legal obligation to carry out a legionella risk assessment of the water services in any work place or business connected premise.

In june 2017 the centers for medicare medicaid services cms released a survey and certification memo pdf icon 4 pages external icon stating that healthcare facilities should develop and adhere to ashrae compliant water management programs to reduce the risk for legionella and other pathogens in their water systems. What is a water management program. Who can be appointed to test or monitor legionella. The water temperature in all or some parts of the system is between 20 45 c.

There are sources of nutrients such as rust sludge scale organic matter and biofilms. If a program team decides to test for legionella in their water systems the standard does not make recommendations regarding. Ashrae 188 says that members of the water management team can consider whether testing should be performed and if performed that the team should determine the frequency of locations for and plans for the response to results of testing. Legionella risk assessment legal requirements.

Legionella is a bacteria that is found naturally in freshwater sources. Identify whether they are likely to create a risk from exposure to legionella and whether. Water management sampling. Down load our legionella legal obligations information document for more information.

Centers for disease control and prevention. Requirement to reduce legionella risk in healthcare facility water systems to prevent cases and outbreaks of legionnaires disease pdf icon 4 pages external icon.