Legionella What is Legionella? 

Water Safety

There are several water-borne bacteria/disease, but the most well known is Legionnaire’s Disease (legionella) which is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, caused by infected water droplets/mist.  This disease can affect anybody, but mainly affects those who are more vulnerable because of age, illness, immunosuppression, smoking etc.  Breathing in small droplets of contaminated water is how the legionella bacteria infect your lungs.

What Calvay Housing Association is Doing to keep You Safe:

  • Carry out cyclical water inspections to communal water tanks where required.  This may require access to your property to access the communal tank.  Any resulting work found during these checks will be undertaken promptly.  Where applicable communal water tanks not required will be removed.
  • During the empty homes process we will carry out a water pipework system flush and replace a shower hose, shower head and curtain(if fitted) prior to a property being allocated.
  • Ensure any Calvay Housing Association Operative or Contractor undertaking works in Calvay Housing Association homes is properly trained for the works they are undertaking.
  • We will ensure that your boiler is set at the correct temperature to prevent any risk of legionella.
  • Most of our properties have combi boilers, therefore have no water storage so any chance of legionella is kept to a minimum.

What You Can Do To keep Yourself Safe:

  • Grant prompt access where required to a communal water tank so the inspection and any works can be carried out.
  • Do not allow water to stagnate e.g. when water outlets are not in regular use.
  • If you are away from your home for more than 48hrs, upon your return run all taps and water outlets for a couple of minutes.
  • When you get back from longer holiday/breaks, you should run water through all your taps and shower heads for a longer period, 5 minutes and immerse your shower head in disinfectant for 10 minutes.
  • Do not alter the settings on your boiler for water temperature as this will have been set to a level to ensure your safety.