Hidden Threats Beneath the Surface: Why Water Hygiene and Legionella Control Cannot Wait in Commercial Buildings
In facilities maintenance, many risks are visible – flickering lights, faulty heating systems or a leaking roof. Yet one of the most serious threats is the one you cannot see: legionella bacteria in building water systems. For facilities managers, property owners and duty holders across commercial buildings, healthcare sites and multi-tenant properties, water hygiene and legionella control must be a core priority.
Why Water Hygiene Matters Now More Than Ever
UK regulations are clear. Any premises with water systems that can produce aerosols such as taps, showers, calorifiers or cooling towers must have a legionella risk assessment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Approved Code of Practice ACoP L8 and guidance HSG 274 outline legal duties for those responsible for managing buildings to assess and control legionella risks.
Since the pandemic, many buildings have experienced fluctuating occupancy levels, leaving parts of water systems underused. Reduced flow and stagnant water create ideal conditions for bacteria to grow. This makes proactive management more important than ever, especially in large offices, retail centres and healthcare facilities.
Understanding Legionnaires’ Disease and Its Risks
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with legionella bacteria. These droplets can come from taps, showers or cooling systems that are not properly maintained. For building owners and facilities managers, preventing legionella growth is not only a legal duty but also a moral one. An outbreak can put employees, tenants and visitors at serious risk and cause lasting damage to your organisation’s reputation.
The Impact on Commercial and Healthcare Buildings
In commercial real estate, a single case of legionella contamination can shut down a building and result in costly remediation. Beyond fines or enforcement from the HSE, the reputational and financial consequences can be severe.
In healthcare environments, the risks are even greater. Hospitals, care homes and clinics house vulnerable occupants who are more likely to be affected by legionella exposure. Water hygiene failures in these settings can directly impact patient safety and service continuity. Every facility must comply with HSE guidance and ensure ongoing control measures are in place.
Five Key Areas for Effective Legionella Risk Management
Risk assessment
The first step is to complete a detailed legionella risk assessment. This identifies water systems, temperature profiles, areas of stagnation and points of aerosol generation.
Legionella Control measures and monitoring
Once assessed, an action plan is required. This includes flushing unused outlets, maintaining safe temperatures (cold water below 20°C and hot water above 50°C), descaling and removing redundant pipework.
Regular review and updates
Risk assessments should be reviewed whenever there are significant changes in building use, water systems or after any incident. As a rule of thumb, a review every two years is good practice for simpler systems.
Routine maintenance and record keeping
Effective control depends on consistent maintenance. Tanks, calorifiers, cooling towers and communal showers must be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Temperature checks and inspection records must be logged and available for audit.
Competence and accountability
A competent “responsible person” should oversee all water hygiene activities. For complex or high-risk environments, experienced specialists should be appointed to ensure compliance and peace of mind.
Why Legionella Control Matters for Your Bottom Line
Compliance risk: Failure to comply with ACoP L8 or HSG 274 can lead to HSE enforcement or prosecution.
Operational risk: Poorly managed water systems can disrupt operations and affect business continuity.
Asset value: Buildings with poor water hygiene records can lose value and increase insurance costs.
Reputation: An outbreak linked to your premises can have long-lasting reputational damage.
How Voltix Services Supports Your Water Hygiene Strategy
At Voltix Services, we understand that managing legionella risk is not just a compliance exercise. It is essential for safe, efficient and reliable building performance. Our team provides:
- Comprehensive risk assessments aligned with ACoP L8 and HSG 274
- Water system audits, temperature profiling, flushing and pipework reviews
- Scheduled maintenance, water sampling and detailed reporting
Smart monitoring of underused systems in commercial, healthcare and multi-tenant properties
By integrating water hygiene into a wider planned preventive maintenance (PPM) strategy and using real-time monitoring, Voltix helps clients move from reactive responses to proactive prevention.
Water moves quietly through every building, yet the risks it carries are far from silent. Whether you manage an office complex, healthcare facility or retail site, water hygiene and legionella control should be treated with the same attention as fire safety or electrical maintenance.
Voltix Services is here to help you stay compliant, protect building users and maintain asset value. The question is, when was your last legionella risk assessment reviewed?
