Legionella control for hotels is a crucial part of a facility manager’s role. An outbreak of Legionella in a hotel could result in the severe illness of hotel guests and staff as well as jeopardising the reputation of the hotel. Therefore, it is vital that facilities managers understand the risks Legionella poses in hotels, where the bacteria can be found and how it can be effectively controlled through a proven water treatment modality.
What Is Legionella?
Legionella is a water-borne pathogen that causes Legionnaires’ disease and is caught by inhaling water droplets. Although not everyone will catch Legionnaires’ disease, the elderly, newborns, smokers, drinkers, people suffering with lung, heart or kidney disease and those who are immune-compromised are at high risk and the disease can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is vital that industrial and commercial sites, such as hotels, have a proven water treatment modality that controls Legionella and the deposits that protect the bacteria, such as biofilm.
Where Is Legionella Found In Hotels?
As Legionella is found in water droplets, any part of a hotel that has water present, or is a water outlet, has the potential to be contaminated with Legionella. Guest facilities, such as showers and swimming pools, and food production ares are some of the highest risk areas and have the potential to cause the widest outbreaks of Legionnaires disease.
Below are just some of the areas that Legionella can be found in hotels:
- Shower heads
- Taps
- Fountains and water features
- Swimming pools
- Air conditioning or cooling towers
- Food displays that use humidified air
- Hot tubs or whirlpools
- Saunas or steam rooms
If Legionella is present in any of these water outlets it poses a large risk to the general public, especially those highlighted as at risk of Legionnaires’ Disease.
Legionella Control For Hotels
As the risks associated with Legionella are so high, it is vital that Legionella is effectively controlled in hotels. One way facilities managers can ensure water safety is by installing a proven water treatment modality.
The Orca copper silver ionisation system has successfully controlled Legionella in every site it has been installed in, including some large hotels, and destroys biofilm, the underlying cause of Legionella contamination, which is vital to prevent Legionella returning. Additionally, the Orca system has no COSSH issues and is safe to handle, making it a safer alternative to other water treatment modalities.
While our Orca copper silver ionisation system controls Legionella, our cloud based water management system, Tetras, helps facilities managers to manage the way water samples are collected, tracked and analysed. Therefore, any water issues are detected and treated before contamination of the hotel water occurs.
With our advanced water treatment and management service, you can be assured that you will effectively control Legionella at your hotel, keeping your guests safe and your site compliant.
To test the safety of your water and check for Legionella counts at your hotel, book a free water site survey. Alternatively, contact us for more information on Legionella control for hotels.
