Inspections BRL6010 Legionella

BRL 6010 Legionella

Over the last years, much attention has been paid to everything relating to Legionella, and rightly so.

Many existing systems, but also newly designed systems appear to host many risk factors which could result in the growth of Legionella. 

Risk factors in hot and cold water systems

Risk factors for the multiplication of Legionella bacteria in wholesome mains supply systems are:

• Water temperature, multiplication occurs at temperatures between 25º- 50ºC.
• Staying time, if the water remains in the system for a long time, this may encourage bacteria to multiply.
• Stagnance of water in the system over longer periods of time (days or weeks).
• Biofilm (Biofilm is a layer of micro-organisms that produce a slime with which it attaches to a surface. The Legionella bacteria can lodge in this biofilm and subsequently spread over the entire system. It may also protect the Legionella bacteria against thermal decontamination, which is intended to eliminate the Legionella bacteria).  
• Sediment (Sediment is a deposit of polutants in the water. Particularly in boilers and other storage tanks, sediment may collect on the bottom. The sediment is a source of nutrients for bacteria such as Legionella)  
• Hotspots in water systems.

Drinking Water Act and Drinking Water Decree:

Since 1 July 2011, the new Drinking Water Act and Drinking Water Decree are in force, in which it is laid down that owners of collective mains supply systems in the priority risk category (previously high and middle category) have a legal obligation to carry out or have carried out a Legionella risk assessment on the basis of the ISSO 55.1 standard, and to draw up a control scheme or have such a scheme drawn up by a BRL 6010-certified company. In addition, the results of the control measures ensuing from the control scheme must be recorded in a log. 

Failure to comply with Legionella legislation is regarded as an economic offence (substantial fines).

Examples of systems in the priority risk category:

• Hospitals;
• Healthcare establishments;
• Accommodation centres;
• Asylum seekers´ centres;
• Prisons;
• Public baths, such as swimming pools and saunas;
• Camping sites;
• Marinas;
• Truckstops, gas stations and roadside restaurants with public showers.

All remaining collective systems (no priority) fall in the low-risk category. For those systems the duty of care to “supply wholesome drinking water” applies, in accordance with the ISSO 55.2 standard.

Examples of systems in the non-priority category:

• Offices and companies;
• Educational institutions and other public buildings, government buildings;
• Recreation such as: sports centres and sports fields, beaches, amusement parks and zoos;
• Shopping centres and department stores;
• Care residences;
• Fire stations;
• Industry.

Owners of non-priority collective systems need to be able to prove that the drinking water they supply is wholesome. In other words, the owner has to be able to prove that the drinking water he supplies does not constitute a risk to people´s health. The owner can prove that he complies with these requirements by having a risk inventory and control scheme drawn up in accordance with ISSO 55.2. If, in the event of a contamination, the system owner cannot prove that he has done all he could to prevent contamination, this could have far-reaching consequences.