Legionella prevention

The problem

Legionella is a bacterium found naturally in fresh water. It becomes a health concern when it grows and spreads in building water systems such as:

• Showerheads and sink taps
• Cooling towers in centralised air-cooling systems for buildings and industrial processes
• Hot tubs that aren't drained after each use
• Decorative fountains and water features
• Hot water tanks and heaters
• Large plumbing systems

Once Legionella multiplies in a building's water system, it spreads in water droplets small enough to breathe in; less commonly, people get sick by aspirating drinking water that contains it. Inhaled, it can cause Legionnaires' disease — a severe pneumonia with high, persistent fever and cough that can be fatal — or Pontiac fever, a milder, flu-like illness.

How Kirkmayer helps with Legionella control

Chlorination by sodium hypochlorite dosing has been the traditional method. Doses of up to 50 ppm eliminate Legionella at short contact times, but fail to remove the biofilm and scale where the bacteria regrow — and doses that high can be harmful to human health.

Anolyte from Kirkmayer hypochlorous acid generators is a stronger germicide than typical sodium hypochlorite and neutralises Legionella at much lower doses: typically up to 5 ppm eliminates the entire population within a contact time of under 10 minutes. Its acidity also dissolves deposited scale and biofilm and prevents regrowth, keeping pipelines clean and bacteria-free.