Cooling Tower Systems & Industry

Page content: Information for Hospitals | Information for dairy farms | Water Treatment Service Providers

Information for hospitals

Hospitals and aged care facilities are regarded as the highest risk facilities for Legionnaires' disease because of the susceptibility of the patients and residents to Legionella bacteria. A range of targeted resources has been developed to assist hospitals and aged care facilities address this risk.

Risk management

• Managing the Risk of Legionnaires' Disease - Supplementary Notes for Hospitals (182kb, pdf)

• Attachment 1 - A Risk-Rating Tool for Hospital Cooling Towers (212kb, MS Word)

• Attachment 2 - A Risk-Rating Tool for Hospital Warm Water Systems (80kb, MS Word)

• Model Communication Plans - Legionella and Legionnaires' Disease (168kb, pdf)

• Pro Forma Report: HCC Levels Above 100,000 CFU/mL in Cooling Tower System (26kb, MS Word)

• Pro Forma Email: Legionella Detection in Cooling Tower System (300kb, MS Word)

• Pro Forma Email: Legionella Detection in Warm Water System (30kb, MS Word)

• Pro Forma Email: Legionnaires' Disease Linked to Hospital (31kb, MS Word)

• Pro Forma Email: Legionnaires' Disease Linked to Hospital Warm Water System (31kb, MS Word)

• Pro Forma Email: Legionnaires' Disease Linked to Hospital Cooling Tower System (30kb, MS Word)

• Pro Forma: Patient Surveillance Protocol Legionnaires' Disease (20kb, MS Word)

• Model Policy: Communication of Legionella and Legionnaires' Disease-Related Issues (38kb, MS Word)

• Model Plan: Cases of Legionnaires' Disease (74kb, MS Word)

• Model Plan: Warm Water Systems (211kb, MS Word)

• Model Plan: Legionella and Legionnaires' Disease (263kb, MS Word)

Selecting a Cooling System for Acute Health and Aged Care Facilities (121kb, pdf)

Information for dairy farms

The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2009 and Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 came into operation on 1 January 2010. The Act, amongst other things, repealed the Health (Legionella) Regulations 2001.

Cooling tower systems that are located on Dairy Farms previously exempted from complying with some of the maintenance and testing requirements of the Health (Legionella) Regulations 2001.

The commencement of the new Act will mean that the previous exemption relating to the maintenance of cooling tower system located on Dairy Farms will is longer be in place.

Following discussions with Dairy Food Safety Victoria and the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria, the Department of Health will continue exempt Dairy Farms from some maintenance and testing requirements through a new “Optional Variation” under section 98 of the new Act.

The new arrangements will mean that Dairy Food Safety Victoria auditors will continue to play a key role in ensuring cooling tower system located on Dairy Farms are maintained in a safe manner.

If you have any questions relating to the proposed arrangements please contact the Legionella Team on 1300 761 874.

Cooling tower systems, including those on dairy farms, must be registered with Department of Health.

Cooling tower systems are an excellent, energy-efficient cooling device however they can pose risks to farming families working in the vicinity of the system during its operation. If the recirculating water in the cooling tower system is contaminated with Legionella bacteria and this water is released from the cooling tower system in tiny droplets called aerosols, people who breathe them in and are susceptible to the bacteria may develop Legionnaires' disease.

Water Treatment Service Providers

Code of Practice for Water Treatment Service Providers (Cooling Towers)

Background
The current Code of Practice was developed in consultation with members of the water treatment industry, although the Department facilitated the process. The Code describes ‘best practice’ for water treatment service providers. Therefore, compliance, although highly encouraged is voluntary and has been widely adopted. Industry accreditation has been established by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) in a staged implementation process to allow water treatment services providers adequate time to adopt the Code.

Process of Review
The Code of Practice is currently undergoing a review to thoroughly address current issues within the industry. A working group, comprised of multi-national, national and local companies, as well as associations representing industry, has been established to ensure the document is comprehensive and suitable for industry as a whole. It is expected that a final published version of the updated document will be available by the end of 2006.

Code of Practice for Water Treatment Service Providers (Cooling Tower Systems) (185kb pdf)

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