Water delivery systems

Page content: Changes in Legislation | Legionella Risks | Risk management plans | Guidelines | Car washes | What are the risks for a car wash facility?

Legionella has been detected in warm water systems associated with showers both in hospitals and in aged care facilities in Victoria. However, much of the evidence linking Legionella in warm water systems to cases or outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease is from overseas. In Victoria we have seen persuasive evidence that a small number of sporadic cases of Legionnaires' disease have been linked to warm water systems in health care and aged care facilities.. The only outbreak of Legionnaires' disease associated with a warm water system was related to a water delivery system that stored warm water in a Victorian car wash facility.

Legislation

On 1 January 2010 the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 (the regulations) commenced. Regulation 62 requires that the responsible person must take reasonable steps to manage the risks of Legionella in water delivery systems in certain premises.

The 'certain premises' which the regulations apply to are:

• Aged care
• Health services
• Health service establishments
• Registered funded agencies
• Correctional services
• Commercial vehicle washes (see below)

The responsible person is any person who owns, manages, or controls the water delivery system.

The Act and regulations are available at the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website.

A summary of the requirements of the regulations is available in the News Bulletin below:

Water Delivery Systems News Bulletin April 2010 (91kb, pdf)

Legionella Risks

Legionella is a ubiquitous organism in the environment and can be found in very low concentrations in the potable water supply. The Legionella bacteria are able to multiply when they find a suitable environment. With the exception of car wash facilities, the warm water systems associated with showers is going to be the major focus for managing the risks of Legionella in the premises listed above.

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Risk management plans

The Department of Health recommends that the premises listed above should prepare a Legionella risk management plan for their warm water systems.

An assessment of other water delivery systems should also be conducted to identify any systems that store water at temperatures between 30°C and 60°C C combined with producing respirable sized droplets to which people might be exposed. A risk assessment should then be conducted on those systems.

Guidelines

The department is in the process of updating the Guidance document 'Controlling Legionella in warm water systems' and will be available to down loaded here soon. A copy of the draft version of Controlling legionella in warm water systems is available by contacting the Legionella Team on 1800 248 898 or by emailing Legionella@health.vic.gov.au

The guide provides a graduated approach to assessment and review:

1. Undertake a site audit to locate, gather and document basic information about each warm water system.

2. Complete the template for basic assessment and review, documenting methods for addressing any identified issues or risks.

3. Keep accurate and detailed records of all maintenance work.

4. Develop a water sampling strategy and commence regular sampling for Legionella.

5. Develop a clear plan on what to do should Legionella be detected in a system.

Additional steps are recommended where more advanced assessment and management are indicated:

6. Complete the template for advanced assessment and management, documenting how any issues/risks identified will be addressed.

7. Develop a plan for management of the warm water system.

To provide comments on the draft document email the Legionella Team on Legionella@health.vic.gov.au before 1 June 2010.

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Car washes

Because a car wash facility was linked to 7 cases of Legionnaires' disease in 2008, these car wash facilities have been included in the list of certain premises that must control the risk of Legionella.

What are the risks for a car wash facility?

Legionella is a ubiquitous organism in the environment and can be found in very low concentrations in the potable water supply. The Legionella bacteria are able to multiply when they find a suitable environment. Risk factors for Legionella growth in car washes are:

• Warm water stored at temperatures between 30°C and 60°C
• Rubber hosing
• Absence of a biocide

People may contract Legionnaires' disease if they are exposed to small droplets containing the bacteria, like those produced by high pressure hoses.

The department recommends that all car wash facilities assess the risks associated with there systems and prepare a Legionella risk management plan.

To manage the risks associated with Legionella, the following should be considered:

• Not using warm water at temperatures between 30°C and 60°C
• Replacing warm water storage with instantaneous units
• Replacing rubber hosing with poly tubing, metal tubing or clean copper tubing
• Regularly disinfecting the system with a chlorine based disinfectant

You can also obtain further information from the Australian Car Wash Association.

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