Legionnaires’ disease causes the highest health burden of all waterborne pathogens. The bacteria live naturally in environmental water sources and if present in the domestic water distribution of premises, they can cause a health risk to humans. These bacteria are transmitted from contaminated water systems through inhalation of very fine water droplets, for instance during showering. Hence control and preventive measures in both hot and cold-water system are essential to prevent the health risk and limit the growth of these bacteria.

To regulate and control the risk from exposure to legionella bacteria in public premises two regulations were published under the Public Health Act, namely the Control of Legionella Regulations, 2006 (L.N.5 of 2006) and the Registration of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations, 2006 (L.N. 6 of 2006).

L.N. 5 of 2006 regulates the installation and design of cooling towers and evaporative condensers. It stipulates commissioning and operational procedures for cooling towers and evaporative condensers and the maintenance and testing requirements on them. Furthermore, this legislation included control and preventive measures on the hot and cold-water systems, indoor water fountains and spas situated at all non-domestic premises used for or in connection with the carrying on of a trade or business (whether for profit or not) and including any healthcare facility and schools.

The responsible person for these premises shall ensure that any of the systems covered by these regulations are maintained and tested according to the European Working Group for Legionella Infections Guidelines and that water systems are maintained in a clean condition and disinfected regularly. These regulations also specify actions which have to be taken by the responsible person following microbiological monitoring and the obligation to notify the Competent Authority according.

The responsible person shall also perform a risk assessment to identify and assess the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria from work activities and the water systems within the premises under his control as identified in the guidelines.

These regulations also outline the duties of the Superintendent to investigate any case or suspected case of Legionnaire’s disease at any premises and to cause the sampling and analysis of any samples required to investigate such case or suspected case.

In the event that the responsible person fails to follow any of the obligations of these regulations, or the Superintendent considers that the risk of infection from that particular premise is significant, he may order that premises, part of the premises or any water related system, be immediately closed until the risk of infection is controlled.

A checklist for the recommended inspection frequencies for risk systems can also be found in the schedules attached to these regulations.

L.N. 6 of 2006 mainly deals with the requirements for the registration of all cooling towers and evaporative condensers by the responsible person.

Registration shall be made in writing on the appropriate form acquired from the Superintendent and duly filled and forwarded to the designated office and the information given should not be misleading, inaccurate or incomplete. A guide on the filling of the registration form has also been prepared and can be downloaded from this webpage together with the official registration form. It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that no device is situated on the premises unless it is registered with the Superintendent. Cooling towers and evaporative condensers register in terms of L.N. 6 of 2006 can be viewed here.

Environmental Health Officers performing duties within the EHD carry out audit inspections to verify that all the provisions stipulated under these regulations are being implemented by the responsible person.

Further information may be obtained from the Water Regulatory and Auditing Unit (WRAU) within the Environmental Health Directorate by email on [email protected]