If your facility operates cooling towers, hot tubs, condensers or other equipment that utilizes freshwater, you and the community around you could be at risk of Legionella. This bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever can be deadly, but regular preventative steps can stop its growth in its tracks.
In addition to the knowledge that you are keeping people safe, creating a Legionella prevention plan offers a variety of other benefits beyond the security of knowing that your system is less vulnerable than ever to an outbreak of bacteria.
What Legionella Prevention Means For Your Water System
When most people think of Legionella prevention, they think of water treatment that will stop issues before they arise and quickly and decisively tackle an outbreak if it occurs. These are natural benefits of maintaining a comprehensive and thorough Legionella prevention plan; however, many people are unaware of the many additional benefits that a prevention plan can bring.
In addition to stopping outbreaks before they occur and establishing a trustworthy strategy for conquering any Legionella that appear, consider the following helpful aspects of keeping your Legionella prevention plan up-to-date.
1. Improving The Longevity Of Your Systems
One of the less talked about benefits you can gain from keeping Legionella rigorously in check in your systems is that people are not the only subjects who benefit. Your equipment will also remain in better working order thanks to a successfully implemented Legionella plan that tackles issues such as biofilms, regular cleaning of surfaces and water treatment.
By balancing the water’s pH, for example, not only do you prevent Legionella, but you also discourage the development of corrosion and scaling in your system that can weaken components or even foul certain machinery, resulting in costly repairs and even premature replacement. Systems that last longer will have less of an impact on your budget.
2. Avoiding Potential Fines And Consequences
A Legionella prevention plan is critical for keeping the people who live and work in the area surrounding your building safe; however, it is also important for your business itself. Both state and local governments often put mandates and regulations into place to oversee the operation of cooling towers and other machinery that is particularly susceptible to Legionella growth.
By creating a comprehensive Legionella prevention plan, you are taking one step closer to compliance with these regulations and will be able to demonstrate that you have done your due diligence with your water management when required.
Businesses that fail to adequately maintain a Legionella prevention plan or that develop Legionella in their water can be fined, and the business may be forced to suspend operations until the issue is resolved. This can cut directly into profits and may even become a public relations nightmare. A prevention plan that is effectively carried out ensures that you are in compliance.
3. Removing The Hassle By Building Relationships
Another struggle that many businesses do not realize until it is already too late is the challenge of locating a Legionella expert they can trust when Legionella does briefly appear in their system.
A prevention plan gives you the opportunity—before things become an issue—to establish a relationship with a Legionella professional that you trust. In the moment, when you need Legionella in your system to be gone as soon as possible, it can be easy to rely on the first professional you find, which can lead to issues such as being overcharged or only temporarily resolving the problem.
A Legionella prevention plan will give you the impetus to locate the ideal company for you; in fact, a trustworthy company is likely able to assist you in creating your Legionella prevention plan in the first place. If you are unsure of where to start, seeking this relationship first can give you the guidance that you need.
Work With The Legionella Prevention Professionals
Whether you are reconsidering some aspects of your current Legionella prevention plan or are in need of a brand-new plan and do not know where to start, you do not need to develop this strategy alone. A skilled water treatment professional can examine the specific risk factors of your system and your building and provide personalized guidance to help you develop a customized Legionella prevention plan.
The experts at Tower Water would be happy to assist you in complying with your local and state regulations while keeping your systems free of potentially dangerous bacteria. Reach out to schedule an appointment so that you can keep your equipment running smoothly and Legionella-free for as long as possible.