Legionella Control and Management to the Sports and Leisure Industry
It is important that Sports and leisure facilities take the risk of legionella and water hygiene seriously. Sports and leisure facilities are often used on a seasonal basis and therefore will have periods of low water usage which can significantly increase the risk associated with legionella growth and bacterial proliferation in the water system.
Further to this, some venues will have water containing equipment that also encourage bacterial growth including legionella. Communal showers, spa bath’s and industrial sized sprinkler systems for Lawns and playing fields for example all increase the risk of exposure.
Whether your site is a small golf course, a 60,000 seater stadium or a public park there are many water containing systems that will need to be assessed and will require a routine management system to ensure the risks are suitably managed and maintained.
Sports and leisure facilities will always offer particular challenges in Legionella risk management
Hotels and ships are particularly susceptible to colonization by legionellae because of their large size, their complexity and also their seasonal use patterns (which mean they may have long periods of stagnation and low use).
Preventive and control measures follow the same procedures identified for other buildings; for example, they involve removing dead and blind ends, maintaining elevated temperatures in the hot-water system, and periodic disinfection and permanent chlorination of the cold-water system.
Ships, like hotels, have complex water systems, and are difficult to link to outbreaks or cases of infection because passengers have usually dispersed before developing symptoms. Ships also present particular challenges, as they are closed environments that may increase the opportunity for transmission of airborne infection. Hot and cold-water systems and spa pools have been implicated in a number of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease on ships.
Whether you are responsible for a small leisure centre, gymnasium or national stadium. Aqua Legion is able to provide legionella risk assessment and management services that will keep your water supply safe, both in and out of season.
If you would like to know how we can help you, contact us now