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Among the most troublesome bacteria is Legionella, commonly found in natural water bodies. However, their presence in built-environment water systems has become the conduit for the emergence and increase in Legionnaires’ Disease in the United States and elsewhere.
With the right conditions — typically water that’s not moved or exchanged frequently, and with tepid to warm temperatures — Legionella thrives in piped water system biofilm. This slimy layer sticks to the inside wall of domestic water piping and is a source of nutrition and insulative protection against chlorine and increased water temperatures. That’s unfortunate for us because those are methods most commonly used to combat the presence of bacteria.
Legionella bacteria are deadly and resilient. In hospital water systems, they become an even greater risk to patients whose immune systems may already be at risk.
Legionnaires’ Disease has increased by 500 to 800% in recent decades. Even the very best healthcare facilities must be vigilant to reduce the threat of infection from this potentially deadly form of pneumonia. Routine testing of domestic water systems is enormously important.
And, of course, prevention and treatment — essentially, germ warfare — is imperative when facility managers and infection control specialists battle this virulent pathogen.
Though many commercial facilities are at risk, including office structures and hotels, hospitals and nursing homes usually serve the populations at the highest risk for Legionnaires’ Disease.
War plan
Various commercial structures, including healthcare facilities, typically have large and complex water systems that can become the ideal host for Legionella growth and the spawning of other opportunistic waterborne pathogens.
The best protection for any structure involves the most important measure of all — the human element. With Legionella, there are no silver bullets. Battling these germs and other impurities requires a full-spectrum, systemic approach. The entry point for a solution is to recognize the risk and then develop a war plan — because that’s essentially what it takes.
Nath notes that digital mixing should be the “backbone and central nervous system” of a concerted effort — the war plan’s main component — to defeat Legionella bacteria within commercial facilities.
With its Internet of Things capabilities and certifications, Watts’ IntelliStation 2 is a smart next-generation digital mixing valve solution that goes beyond controlling the water temperature within a facility. It gives building owners and service contractors critical information on the valve’s performance and the potable water system’s condition in real time.
The digital mixing station requires a minimum flow rate of 3 to 5 gallons/minute, so a recirculation pump will run continuously, ensuring water doesn’t stagnate in the recirculation line. The thermal energy loss is negligible when piping to and from the recirculation pump is insulated.
The included Nexa system is a comprehensive, intelligent water management platform for a commercial building, delivering visibility of and control over water systems. It is designed to control water temperature +/- 2 F in accordance with ASSE 1017 and with BACnet MS/TP and Modbus protocols. It communicates advanced analytics and low-noise alerts, giving a facility management team actionable insights into equipment and water system performance.
• Routine testing
Proactive facility managers have found that routine testing of water samples is very helpful. For hospitals and healthcare facilities, it’s not only a form of patient and healthcare professional advocacy but also smart business. Testing may become the lead source of protection against exposure within the facility (staff and patients), possible litigation and bad press coverage.
• Multiple barriers
The world’s leading experts all agree that if you haven’t already taken the threat seriously, and even if you have — the multibarrier approach is the only way to effectively reduce the threat of Legionnaires’ Disease.
A facility’s team must consider multiple solutions from the point of entry, along the premise plumbing path, including high-temp sanitization, and to the point of use. Legionella and other waterborne pathogens are resilient; they can repopulate and find food sources throughout a facility’s plumbing infrastructure.
• Battling biofilm
Biofilm isn’t only a place for germs to hide and seek protection, it’s their buffet. So, to attack the biofilm makes real sense. A few design choices in the plumbing system can help.
Keep the water flowing. Continuous recirculation reduces biofilm because sitting water becomes stagnant and promotes its growth. Continuously moving water doesn’t stagnate.
• Technology’s role
Technology can play a significant role in mitigating the risk of Legionella and maintaining a water management plan.
Digital mixing stations, working in concert with sensors and other technology, allow for precise water temperature control and the ability to purge systems should an outbreak occur. Most connect directly to a building automation system, and some have abilities to control features off-campus or, at a minimum, be warned if something is out of range.
• Don’t forget drainage
Too often, serious consideration of waterborne pathogens often disregards the presence and role of drains. It’s easy to think that since the water essentially leaves the path to a person, it shouldn’t be harmful, but it’s not so.
Bacteria is prolific in the drainage parts of a sink. Not only is it there but it has been shown to “climb” out of the drain and then potentially encounter a person. So, the next time you examine the plumbing leading up to the faucet, take a close look at the drains, too.
Shashwat Nath is a Senior Product Manager at Watts Water. He is responsible for the mixing, hydronics, relief valves and HVAC categories within the company. Nath has developed extensive experience working in HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, and plumbing industries for the 18 years in various roles in engineering, sales and product management. Nath is based out of the Boston area and is passionate about sustainability and water conservation. He enjoys reading fiction and biking in his spare time.