Coastline Housing is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its customers and employees and recognises that the risk from Legionella bacteria may arise in customers' homes.
What is Legionella?Legionella are bacteria that are common in natural rivers and lakes, etc and artificial water systems, (e.g. hot and cold water systems storage tanks, pipe work, taps and showers).
Legionella are usually associated with larger water systems, (in factories, hotels, hospitals and museums, and cooling towers), but they can also live in smaller water supply systems used in homes and other residential accommodation.
Other potential sources of Legionella include spa and whirlpool baths, humidifiers, dinking water systems, water features, garden hoses and sprinklers and fire-fighting systems (sprinklers and hose reels).
Legionella can survive in low temperatures, but thrive at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C. Temperatures in excess 50°C will kill them.
Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria.
What you can do to reduce Legionella risk in your new home:
The risk of Legionella is minimal; however you should take the following actions when you move in to your property:
• Please run your shower or bath continuously for a minimum of 5 minutes when you move in to flush through any form of bacteria.
• Please keep your water cistern covered, insulated, clean and free of debris
• Please ensure that your pipe work is insulated and, if not, ask us to do it for you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Raising the temperature of the warm water is one way to control Legionella growth, but could also increase the risk of burns and scalding. Please take care of the risk of scalding and burns, especially if you have children.
Coastline's Commitment
To comply with the Statutory Regulations that are laid out in the Approved Code of Practice (L8) published by the Heath and Safety Executive, Coastline is working with Quest Environmental Solutions Ltd, the only company registered with the Legionella Control Association (LCA) in Cornwall.
QES has completed Water Hygiene Risk Assessments on our sheltered schemes, corporate buildings and communal flats, and are currently undertaking the monitoring regime to ensure these buildings are safe.
QES also carry out a risk assessment on each of our void properties which ensures that the property is safe when we hand it over to the new customer.
During 2009, QES will start to visit the rest of the properties that CHL look after to carry out a risk assessment.