WATER SYSTEMS STEPHANIE ALLCHURCH – PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, ALTECNIC, UK
Water systems: thermal
vs.chemical disinfection
Water systems are key to all healthcare facilities and, thus, the management of these systems is essential to ensuring that those who are vulnerable are protected. As Stephanie Allchurch of hydronic solutions supplier Altecnic explains, however, controlling the safety and hygiene of any water system is not as easy as many may believe, with a number of factors for healthcare facilities managers (HFMs) and water safety groups (WSGs) needing to be taken into consideration.
In healthcare premises, water safety plans (WSPs) must be integrated to ensure the most effective means of continually providing safe wholesome drinking water - including appropriate water supply and maintenance regimes – to minimise the risk of harm. There are many considerations that both HFMs and WSGs must consider when undertaking a risk assessment, such as clinical risks, microbial and chemical contamination, changes to the water system and resilience of the water supply. Most importantly, a WSP should aim to control waterborne pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can pass from a water system and then from patient to patient. The British NHS, as well as any supporting organisations that they use, must abide by a number of legal requirements and statutes to ensure that the safety of a water system is consistently maintained. More detail on these requirements can be found in the Health Building Notes,1 Memoranda,2
and the Health Technical as well as some information
being given in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.3 There are two main physical methods that can be used to disinfect a water system – chemical disinfection and thermal disinfection. These methods have varying benefits and pitfalls, which HFMs and WSGs must fully evaluate before selecting the correct method – or sometimes methods – for their WSP.
Why do water systems in a healthcare setting need to be disinfected to such standards? The UK’s government Health Technical Memoranda 04-01 Part B – Operational Management (HTM04-01 Part B) states ‘the presence of people who may have compromised immune or respiratory systems or have other risk factors that increase their susceptibility to Legionella
IFHE DIGEST 2022
Legionella can cause the vulnerable end-users to contract Legionnaire’s disease. infection’.4
That suggests unsafe and
unhygienic water systems can have dire consequences on those harmed, a heightened risk if the individual is already vulnerable – as many are in healthcare settings. The growth of Legionella can cause the vulnerable end-users to contract Legionnaire’s disease, which is responsible for between two and nine per cent of all pneumonia cases. In a time where pneumonia can cause death to those vulnerable – and, because of COVID-19, even to otherwise healthy individuals – it is of utmost importance the spread of Legionnaire’s disease, and growth of
Pseudomonas in water systems, is controlled and limited. Disinfection is the only method that
can effectively rid a system of harmful pseudomonas, such as Legionella, which pose such a threat to these individuals. This is because they are unable to grow in sterile water and need other microorganisms present for easy growth.
Stephanie Allchurch Stephanie Allchurch has been product
development manager at Altecnic since February 2019 where she plays a key
role in spearheading the development of Altecnic’s product offering. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the plumbing and heating industry, with
specialist knowledge in water regulations and product specifications.
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