Why is water safety important?
Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause a serious illness called Legionnaires’ disease, which affects the lungs. Anyone can breathe in the bacteria through tiny water droplets in the air. Some people are at higher risk, including:
People who smoke
Older people
People with lung problems
People with weaker immune systems
These people can become more seriously ill if they catch it.
How we keep you safe
Magenta Living must make sure all communal water systems are safe. We follow important laws and safety rules, including:
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1994
ACOP L8: Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems
HSG 274: The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Hot and Cold-Water Systems
We check and monitor water safety wherever we have shared water storage systems. We look for any risks that could help Legionella grow. If we find a problem, we take action to stop the bacteria from spreading.
How you can help
Legionella bacteria grow in still water and in places with limescale. You can help prevent this by following these steps.
More advice can be found on the HSE website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/hot-and-cold.htm
If a tap is not used at least once a week, run it for a few minutes before using it.
Turn the tap on slowly to stop water droplets spraying into the air.
If you have been away from home for more than a week, flush all taps and showers as soon as you return.
Run the shower on the hottest setting for a few minutes from time to time.
Clean taps and shower heads regularly to remove limescale.
You can use white vinegar, lemon juice, or supermarket limescale cleaner.
Keeping water hot helps stop bacteria growing:
Water heaters should always be switched on and set to 60°C
Combi boilers should be set between 50°C and 60°C
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions or want to speak to someone about water safety.