Rank: Forum user 
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Folks
On our premises we have several water storage tanks. We use the mains water in them to test the pressure in our road tankers. We also use this mains water to supply our wash bays. The wash bays are supplied with mains water which is heated in boilers and then supplied to high pressure lances which are dropped inside tankers. We also use a pressure hose to wash the outside of our tractor units as well.
The water in these main water tanks is constantly being used therefore the water is not being coming stagnate. We also carry out statutory maintenance on our boilers and also mainteneace in our washbay etc.
I have been asked by an auditor do we moniitor for legionella and have been told it is a statutory requirement. I have carried out a risk assessment and I feel this is unecesssary. Can someone advise me that deals with legionella and has alot more experience what simple steps I need to do here so that I dont end up doing alot of things that arent even necessary. I
Help please Eddie eddie@bpmckeefry.com
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Water held in storage tanks isn't "mains" water. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a specialist look over the tanks (scale, sludge, insulation, solar gain, volume versus throughput etc.).
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Rank: Forum user
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Eddie,
We do monitor our vehicle wash bays for legionella, the main observations tend to be the build-up of scale and mould on the nozzles which may encourage nutrients to grow and encourage the proliferation of Legionella bacteria.
The nozzles undergo a quarterly de-scale and disinfection to reduce the risk, this is then documented within the control book.
Further consideration is ensuring that there is lid on the tank to prevent the ingress of debris. Also subjecting the tank to a physical clean and disinfection to remove any biofilm that may have built up. (if required)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Howdy
As with most things in the world of h&s, the statutory requirement is to undertake a risk assessment - not to simply blindly 'monitor' for legionella. I presume that this means sampling?
Sampling is only ever an indicator and the ACoP (L8) covers this exact issue around paragraphs 183-188 - generally speaking it makes the point that micro testing isn't normally required.
I'd be more interested in confirming full water turnover in the tanks is within 24 hours, that you have good flow within the tanks i.e. no short circuiting by same side inlet/outlet, water temperature being kept below 20oC and periodic inspections for sludge/sediment and scale etc. with planned remedial action if you start spotting any. i.e. check on the actual risk factors for legionella growth.
L8 does have recommended minimium frequencies for such checks/tests in the checklists at the rear and frankly they tend towards the 6 monthly.
However! It's all about the competent risk assessment rather than simply blindly following those frequencies....even if ultimately that is all that you need to do.
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Rank: Forum user
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