Legionella
Legionella is hazardous bacteria that can be found in water. In a residential property, Legionella can grow in water stored at temperatures between 20°C and 50°C degrees. If swallowed or inhaled, water containing Legionella may lead to Legionnaires’ disease or legionellosis – an infectious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
You can reduce the risk within your home by following simple steps, some of which are detailed below.
To help minimise any impact we would like to encourage you to take these basic steps to maintain good water hygiene:
- Leave any insulation fitted around your hot water cylinder, cold water storage tank and pipework in place. This will help keep your hot water at the right temperature and will also make your system as efficient as possible saving you money on your hot water bills.
- Allow us to undertake inspections, servicing and maintenance on equipment installed at your home to ensure its running as safely and efficiently as possible.
- Do not change the settings on your boiler or hot water system.
- Ensure all taps and the shower in your home are used regularly (at least once a week).
- Please clean and de-scale all taps at least once every 3 months.
- Please clean, de-scale and disinfect your showerhead at least once every 3 months. Please ensure that it is clean and fully rinsed before using it again.
- If you use a garden hose or water butt, remember to flush these out so any stagnant water is removed.
- If you go away on holiday, when you get home, run all the taps and shower in your home for at least 3 minutes and keep away from the water while it is running.
- If you find any issues with the water (temperature and/or discolouration) please call the Hub 0333 200 7304 or alternatively log into the customer Portal and report it straight away.
The symptoms of Legionnaires' disease
The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are like the symptoms of the flu:
- High temperature, feverishness and chills;
- cough;
- muscle pains;
- headache; and leading on to
- pneumonia, very occasionally
- diarrhoea and signs of mental confusion
- If you develop the above symptoms and you are worried that it might be Legionnaires’ disease, see your general practitioner.
To learn more about Legionella please see A guide to Legionella.