If you are in need of a Legionella prevention plan for your building or facility, you may have attempted to create and manage a strategy on your own. However, working with a consultant is often a better choice than tackling a Legionella issue alone, both for safety’s sake and for the sake of a comprehensive prevention plan. Before deciding which consultant to work with, be sure to ask some important questions.
Why Work With A Consultant?
Many facility owners or managers assume that they do not need to work with a consultant when it comes to Legionella. They may think that copying a neighboring facility’s prevention strategy or simply having their water inspected from time to time is sufficient. However, a consultant can provide personalized guidance that is unique to the individual building. This is an important step because if Legionella is permitted to grow, it can make visitors and employees sick or potentially lead to death.
Questions To Ask When Creating A Legionella Prevention Plan
A Legionella prevention plan is intended to stop Legionella bacteria from growing in the first place. In order to create an effective plan, a consultant will need to thoroughly evaluate your system to determine its shape, equipment, and potential risks like corrosion or biofilms. As you speak with potential Legionella compliance companies, asking questions about their experience and operation can give you valuable insight into their skill and reliability.
How Much Experience Does The Professional Have?
A professional Legionella company should employ experts who have years of experience in creating Legionella prevention plans and managing the bacteria. Legionella can develop in unexpected places, and only an expert will be able to identify some of the seemingly innocuous risk factors that may be present in your systems, such as dead legs or fluctuating water temperature.
Which Laboratory Is Used?
When water is tested for Legionella, a professional should choose to send the sample to an approved laboratory instead of using onsite PCR or quick tests. It is important to know which laboratory is being used for the test to make sure that it is accredited for environmental testing. Some laboratories can identify the specific species or serogroup of Legionella, which is a critical part of ensuring that treatment is comprehensive.
Can They Provide Remediation?
Sometimes, a building will already be suffering from Legionella overgrowth when a prevention plan is first put into place. Not all Legionella prevention companies are willing to assist in resolving an active infestation; however, the best consultants are skilled in both Legionella prevention and remediation, or the process of removing Legionella from a water system once it has begun to proliferate. If a consultant has successfully remediated buildings of your size or type, that is a good sign.
Do They Offer Water Management Programs?
Preventing Legionella involves more than simply cleaning cooling towers and ensuring that the water temperature stays in an appropriate range. Skilled Legionella prevention services will also offer water management programs that provide personalized guidance on any chemicals or pH balance required to keep your water Legionella free.
Do They Understand Your Local Regulations?
Many facilities and buildings are subject to local regulations for Legionella, such as the number of inspections per year and acceptable water standards. Skilled Legionella prevention consultants will be closely familiar with the regulations that you must abide by so that the prevention plan that they create is comprehensive and fulfills the needs of your business.
Are There Conflicts Of Interest?
Many businesses can earn money by recommending certain products or performing certain tasks. However, the most reliable and trustworthy Legionella prevention consultants will recommend materials, tools, and processes that are in your best interest. If a company only recommends a certain brand or suggests a type of cleaning or water treatment that provides them with a benefit for recommending it, consider how well that consultant will be able to advocate for your best interests. Be sure to choose a company that seeks to make your system the best that it can be.
Create A Legionella Plan With The Water Treatment Experts
Whether you are currently experiencing a Legionella outbreak or are seeking to develop a prevention plan before this potentially deadly bacteria ever becomes an issue, choosing a trustworthy consultant can feel overwhelming. The experts at Tower Water have years of experience creating Legionella prevention plans for facilities large and small and would be happy to offer their expertise. Reach out to schedule an appointment to discuss the specific features, challenges, and risks of your individual facility so that you can come away with a Legionella prevention plan that works for the long term.
