Water safety information for housing tenants
Water safety
Having clean water in your home is vital for your health and wellbeing. Most household water systems contain some bacteria and other organisms which do not cause any problems. If the bacteria have the right conditions to multiply, they can cause people to become ill.
What is legionnaires' disease?
Legionella is a bacterium which can grow in stored or stagnant water under certain conditions.
Legionnaires’ disease comes from breathing in bacteria contained in small droplets of water, like spray from a shower or taps. It isn’t spread directly from person to person, and you can’t get it from drinking water.
The risk of infection increases with age, but some people are at higher risk. These include:
- people aged over 45
- smokers and heavy drinkers
- those suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease, diabetes, lung or heart disease
- anyone with an impaired immune system
Read about legionnaires' disease on the NHS website
What we do
Where water is stored or used in a communal area or shared property, we carry out the following tasks do on a regular planned basis:
- carry out a risk assessment to identify and manage any potential risks
- check temperature at communal outlets
- flush all communal outlets
- scale and clean shower heads situated in communal areas
- where fitted, maintain and service chemical dosing units
- inspect the condition of hot / cold water tanks and condition of water
- action all remedial works identified following any of the above tasks
What you can do to keep safe
You can ensure your water is safe for drinking, cooking and washing by following a few simple tips:
- if you have been away from home for a week or more, run the taps for a few minutes to allow fresh water into the pipe
- clean your taps and keep your taps clear of limescale
- set the boiler thermostat to 60 degrees or above to prevent harmful bacteria growing
- if you have a cold water storage tank, keep it insulated and covered to prevent dust and insects getting in
You should also make sure you know where to turn off your water. If you have a leak this will help to reduce any damage to your home and belongings.