If you are a landlord of commercial or residential properties, you have a legal duty to risk assess your water systems for Legionella. For most domestic lettings, the assessment is straightforward and can be handled by the landlord themselves. However, landlords with multiple properties or complex buildings can benefit from hiring a professional to handle the legionella inspection and testing.More info :https://legionella-risk-assessments.uk

A professional should use modern methods to get the most accurate, reliable answers. This includes using qPCR to identify the presence of Legionella species and to determine how high their concentrations are. The higher the concentration, the more likely it is that the bacteria are causing a health risk.

Understanding Legionella Inspection: Key Steps and Procedures

They will also inspect the site, look at each tap and showerhead, report on redundant pipework and flexible hoses and access any water tanks in the loft. The resulting report will include a list of items that need to be flushed. ARA will also recommend any action required to keep the water system free from Legionella.

In addition to identifying the presence of Legionella, they will use the qPCR method to test for the presence of other bacteria that could cause disease in humans, such as E.coli and Salmonella. They will also conduct temperature monitoring and take swab samples from different areas of the building water system. They will then send the samples to an accredited laboratory for processing. ARA will work with the client to determine an action limit, below which they can consider the system under control and above which it may need to be treated with a suitable biocide such as chlorine dioxide.