What is a critical factor to maintain for effective Legionella management?

For effective Legionella management, maintaining minimal water stagnation and ensuring frequent water turnover are both critical factors. Legionella bacteria thrive in stagnant water environments, where they can multiply rapidly. Stagnation often occurs in dead legs or unused sections of plumbing systems, providing an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria. Therefore, implementing strategies to minimize stagnation—such as regularly using all parts of the plumbing system and avoiding unused fixtures—is essential for controlling bacterial growth.

Frequent water turnover is equally important as it helps to keep the water fresh and reduces the opportunity for Legionella proliferation. This can be achieved through regular flushing of systems that are not used often or ensuring that the hot and cold water systems operate in such a way that water is continually moved through the system.

Both of these practices directly contribute to reducing the risk of Legionella exposure in plumbing systems, making the combination of minimizing stagnation and frequent turnover essential for effective management.