Legionella testing should be a regular part of your water management plan, regardless of whether you operate the most common culprits behind the spread of Legionnaires’ disease, such as cooling towers.
However, testing is not as simple as dipping a test strip into the water that comes out of your tap; in fact, it is much more nuanced than that, and you should consider independent Legionella testing services for the best results. Not only will this help to keep you in compliance with local and state laws, but it will also provide higher quality results that will more adequately inform your overall plan.
Validate the Efficacy of a Water Management Program
One of the most important reasons to regularly test for Legionella in your system is to validate whether your current water management program and strategy is performing as intended and, if it is not, how to fix the vulnerabilities.
An independent Legionella testing company can comprehensively examine the current state of your water to clarify where your greatest strengths and weaknesses are so that you do not spend unnecessary money combatting problems that do not exist—or, likewise, if you are failing to address serious problems that you believe you have under control. Regular testing is part of maintaining the efficacy of your water management program.
Remove Bias and Conflicts of Interest
Additionally, perhaps the most common rationale behind utilizing the expertise of an independent Legionella testing company to avoid conflicts of interest and other issues of bias. If you trust someone with a stake in your business, it may be to their advantage to misrepresent facts, either to make a problem appear worse than it is so that they can be paid to remedy it or to downplay the severity of an issue to spare themselves or the company from consequences.
It is in your business’ best interest to conduct testing through an independent third party who has nothing to lose or gain from conveying honest information about your system. This will ensure that you receive the most factual data possible so that you can make informed decisions.
Ensure the Highest Level of Expertise
Among the challenges faced by businesses when they test for Legionella is locating someone with the appropriate expertise to adequately inform them about the state of their water system. If you rely on one of your own employees or workers to conduct your Legionella testing, you are missing out on the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of someone who exclusively works in the field.
Not only can this work to your detriment in the creation of an effective and sustainable water management plan, but it can also leave your building open not only to compliance and regulatory issues but also vulnerabilities that lead to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. This illness threatens the lives of many people each year, with approximately 10% of all who fall ill with the sickness succumbing to it. The expertise of your Legionella testing contractor is both a quality and safety concern that you should pay careful attention to.
Greater Convenience with Less Personnel Investment
Another advantage offered by independent Legionella testing is that you do not need to dedicate your own personnel to the task. Legionella testing takes time and occurs frequently; depending on your compliance needs, you could be testing as often as weekly. By working with a professional and independent company, you can outsource this task to a reputable expert so that your workers can continue to do the jobs that they do best without interrupting your work flow.
Your employees were hired for specific tasks, and it behooves your business to let them perform those tasks rather than taking on additional duties that they are less qualified for. A professional, independent testing company can adapt and work within your schedule to achieve your testing needs with a high level of quality and the ability to work around and alongside you to prevent workflow disruptions.
Trust the Experts to Help You Test for Legionella Regularly
Whether you are considering how to keep your Legionella testing up to regulatory compliance level or you are ready to commit to an independent testing company for a variety of reasons, the experts that you choose matter. Be sure to partner with a company that has years of experience specifically in the field of Legionella testing in order to see the best results. The professionals at Tower Water would be happy to help you achieve your testing goals and remain in compliance. Reach out to learn more or to schedule an appointment to get started.