Water hygiene & Legionella

To help keep you and your household safe, we want to raise awareness about Legionella – a waterborne bacteria that, in rare cases, can lead to illness.

Here’s what you need to know and how you can help reduce the risk in your home.

What is Legionella?

Legionella is a type of bacteria that can grow in water systems. In rare cases, it can lead to Legionnaires’ disease – a type of pneumonia that can be serious for some people. Legionnaires’ disease comes from breathing in tiny droplets of water that contain bacteria, like spray from a shower of taps. It’s not spread from person to person and can’t be caught from drinking water.

 

Who’s most at risk?

Most people won’t get sick from Legionella, but it can be more serious for older adults, people with underlying health conditions or anyone with a weakened immune system.

 

Where can it be found?

Legionella is quite common and can be found in most water systems, especially where water isn’t moving around or gets warm. It’s not usually a problem, but under the right conditions the bacteria can multiply.

It can be found in places such as:

• Showers and taps that haven’t been used for a while
• Water tanks and pipework, especially if water is not regularly flushed
• Garden hoses or outdoor taps that aren’t used regularly
• Any place where water can sit and become warm

What can you do?

There are some steps you can take to help keep water safe in your home

• Flush taps and showers – if you’ve been away from home for more than a few days (like after a summer holiday) or have taps you rarely use (such as in a spare bathroom or garden), run the water for a few minutes before using them. This helps flush out any water that has been sitting in the pipes
• Clean showerheads regularly – limescale and dirt can build up and provide a place for bacteria to grow. Clean and descale showerheads every few months
• Report any issues – if your hot water isn’t as warm as usual or something doesn’t seem right with your taps or boiler, let us know right away by
  calling us on 0800 652 8104.
  If you notice any issues with your water supply, contact Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778

 

Your safety is our priority – and we’re here to help if you have any questions or concerns.  Call us on 0800 652 8104 or email us at info@berwickshirehousing.org.uk