Description
The problem
Legionella is one of the many bacteria that are naturally met in freshwater. It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems like:
- Showerheads and sink faucets
- Cooling towers (structures that contain water and a fan as part of centralized air cooling systems for building or industrial processes)
- Hot tubs that aren’t drained after each use
- Decorative fountains and water features
- Hot water tanks and heaters
- Large plumbing systems
After Legionella bacteria grows and multiplies in a building water system, water containing the bacteria can spread through contaminated water droplets small enough for people to breathe. Less commonly, people can get sick by aspiration of drinking water containing Legionella.
The inhalation of small airborne water droplets that contain Legionella bacteria and their introduction in the human lungs can cause either Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia — lung inflammation caused by the introduction of Legionella bacteria in the human lungs. The infection is characterized by harsh symptoms (such as high persistent fever, cough, etc) and in extreme cases can end up being fatal.
Pontiac fever is a milder illness compared to Legionnaires’ disease and resembles the common flu.
How Kirkmayer can help you with Legionella control
Chlorination, in the form of Sodium Hypochlorite dosing, has been the traditional method for the control of Legionella. Hypochlorite dosing concentrations of up to 50 ppm are able to eliminate Legionella bacteria effectively at short contact times. However, chlorination in the above scheme has proven to be inefficient in removing biofilm and scale which are hotspots for Legionella bacteria regrowth. Moreover dosing levels such as the above can prove to be harmful to human health.
The Anolyte stream, produced by Kirkmayer Hypochlorous Acid generators, possesses superior germicidal properties compared to typical sodium hypochlorite solutions and can neutralize effectively all Legionella bacteria at much lower dosing concentrations. Typically dosing levels of up to 5 ppm of Anolyte solution is effective in eliminating completely all Legionella bacterial population within a contact time of fewer than 10 minutes. Moreover, its acidic nature dissolves and removes all deposited scale and biofilm and prevents its regrowth thus keeping your pipelines clean while assuring that they will remain bacterial – free.
