Why is water tank cleaning essential for mitigating the spread of legionella?
Regular cold water tank cleaning is an essential job that every business should conduct to guarantee that the water they provide is free of contaminants.
Water tanks serve as crucial storage units for water that is used for various purposes within businesses, therefore regular cleaning procedures must consistently take place. Failure to do so puts employees’ health and safety, the quality of products and services, and a business’s overall reputation at risk.
In this blog post, we will discuss the process of water tank cleaning, how routine tank cleaning can help mitigate the spread of harmful bacteria such as legionella and its importance for commercial businesses.
What does the process of water tank cleaning involve?
A specialist will carry out a specific process to protect your water systems from bacteria buildup. The process will involve draining, scrubbing, cleaning and disinfecting the tank using specific equipment and chemical percentages. The Irrigonics team can provide more information on this process, including the correct chemical levels and equipment used.
Cleaning water tanks of any size can be a dangerous process and should always be left to specialists who have the necessary equipment and experience to clean tanks safely and thoroughly. For this reason, it is important to hire industry professionals to handle any issues with your water tanks on your behalf.
How can water tank cleaning help mitigate the spread of legionella?
Bacteria can accumulate inside your water tank if it is not cleaned and maintained regularly. This is due to the build-up of biofilm and limescale creating the perfect environment for bacteria such as legionella to grow.
Remedial services such as water tank cleaning will assist in reducing the spread of legionella bacteria by removing any of these materials that may have built up in your tank.
Water tanks are frequently home to substances that can provide significant nutrition sources for legionella bacteria, such as sediment, scale, and silt, which can be easily missed if they are not routinely inspected, cleaned, and disinfected. Draining and physically cleaning a water tank at any scale will eliminate these materials and prevent your tank from legionella bacteria buildup.
Why is regular water tank cleaning important?
As a business owner, there are numerous reasons why you should hire a specialist to perform routine water tank inspections, some of which we have detailed below.
- Ensuring the safety of your building occupants
When it comes to the importance of cold water tank cleaning, the most crucial consideration is the health and safety of your employees and customers. When consumed, contaminated water can cause serious health issues for people inside your building, including a potentially fatal lung condition known as Legionnaires disease.
Cleaning these tanks is essential in buildings that are occupied by vulnerable people, such as children, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions. This is because potentially fatal outcomes are more likely if these groups are exposed to legionella bacteria.
Ensuring regular cleaning and the disinfection of water tanks is a measure that you can put in place that safeguards the health and well-being of everyone within your premises.
- Complying with HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8
Both routine tank maintenance and cleaning are essential aspects of water hygiene and HSE Legionella control measures. The function of your water tank is a priority for government bodies and is frequently regulated in commercial buildings.
HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8 requires you to take responsibility for avoiding the spread of bacteria by monitoring or hiring an external company to monitor, your water tanks through routine cleaning and regular inspections. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in fines, legal penalties and operational disruptions.
- Protecting your business’ reputation
Customer perception and trust are the foundations of a business’s reputation. Word of water-related issues, such as contamination or outbreaks of Legionnaires disease, may spread fast and have the potential to tarnish the reputation that your company has worked hard to build.
For all of these reasons, it’s critical as a business owner that you devote time to ensure your water tanks are routinely inspected and in line with HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8 in order to mitigate the spread of bacteria such as legionella.
How Irrigonics can help
At Irrigonics, we are fully trained and Insured to complete the cleaning and maintenance of your water tanks in line with the latest HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8. Our team is equipped and qualified to safely and efficiently protect your tank from the build-up of legionella bacteria through regular cleaning.
You can learn more about our services here or get in touch with us today for professional, industry-approved water hygiene solutions.