2024-01-02
Legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease is a relatively rare infectious disease that often occurs as pneumonia (lung inflammation). The disease is characterized by a sudden onset, with the temperature rising to 39 – 40.5°C, dry cough, chest pain, and respiratory problems.
If you experience these symptoms, please consult your family doctor immediately.
How can you get legionellosis?
The source of infection is water that contains bacteria (legionella). People become infected by inhaling aerosolized water droplets that contain bacteria. These droplets form from small water droplets when water contaminated with legionella hits hard surfaces. Devices that create water aerosols include hot and cold water systems, including showers and taps, whirlpool baths or swimming pools, Turkish baths and saunas, hot springs, air humidifiers, air conditioners cooling units, decorative fountains, etc. The smaller the aerosolized water droplets, the higher the risk of infection. Legionellosis does not spread through human contact!
In nature, legionella is found in small amounts in lakes and rivers. It can multiply significantly in water supply systems at temperatures ranging from +20°C to +45°C and in the presence of organic matter (biological deposits, sediments, etc.). Legionella multiplies especially in warm water, in hot and cold water tanks, in pipes with low water flow or standing water (for example, in apartments where taps or showers are rarely used), in the organic deposits on the surfaces of pipes, taps, or tanks, in the rubber or natural fibers of washing machines and stoppers, and in water heaters. The formation of biological deposits on the inner surfaces of pipes and water tanks is promoted by contamination, inaccessible places that cannot be cleaned, water stagnation (low pressure, blind pipe ends or attachments, large amount of water), uneven surfaces, hot water temperature below +50°C, corrosion, etc.
How to protect yourself from legionellosis?
To avoid infection at home, it is necessary to ensure conditions in hot and cold water systems that would inhibit the growth of legionella. Make sure that the temperature of cold water is below +20°C, but hot water is above +50°C (approximately one minute after turning on the tap, water of this temperature should be flowing). It is important to regularly clean the shower head from organic and inorganic deposits, as well as disinfect it using chlorine-containing disinfectants or high temperature by placing it in boiling water. At least once a week, run water in taps and showers that are rarely used for a few minutes.
If you have gone on vacation and, upon returning, do not let the water run, then the risk still exists. If water is not used for a long time, it is better to turn on the tap, let it run, and only then use it. Because this will free you from any bacteria that cause infections. The same applies to the shower, because it is possible to get legionellosis even when taking a shower, inhaling the steam.
What preventive measures does SIA “Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks” take?
In accordance with the rules, the house manager regulates the temperature regime depending on the time of day and weather conditions – in order to optimize heat energy consumption.
If the owners of the apartments in the house have not made a decision about the set regime, then the manager sets it himself, taking into account the factors and technical possibilities in the house, recommendations for legionella prevention, the risk of flooding, the technical condition of the pipes, as well as economical heat energy consumption.
SIA “Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks” in all houses that have not made an individual decision, ensures that the water is heated in the heat exchanger to 55 degrees, because at this temperature legionella bacteria do not multiply and, under the prolonged influence of such a temperature, they die. It is often said that for the prevention of legionella bacteria, it would be necessary to have a water temperature above 65 degrees, but maintaining such a water temperature poses a risk of flooding. It is also important to consider one important factor – the technical condition of the pipes. If they are overgrown, the owners of the apartments must make a decision to replace them.
SIA “Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks” additionally informs that the estimated cost of disinfection of the engineering communication system of a five-story residential building is 500.00 EUR (including VAT). Taking into account the fact that each residential building has a different management and maintenance reserve balance, the decision to carry out disinfection of the engineering communication system of a residential building is the right of the owners of the apartments in the residential building.
