Legionella in Shower Heads, How to Minimize the Risks

Clean Drinking Water Seems So Obvious

In the Netherlands, we can trust that the water flowing from our water supply network is clean and safe. Ideally, this is the case at all times. However, in practice, we are not always immune to the presence of potentially harmful contaminants in our tap water.

Warnings via public media advising people to boil water for use in order to kill bacteria that may be present in the pipes due to an unknown or known cause are not uncommon. Unfortunately, infections with Legionella bacteria still occur too frequently.

What Are Legionella Bacteria?

Legionella is caused by a bacterium and can lead to serious pneumonia and, in extreme cases, even death. Legionella is also known as Legionnaires' disease.

Legionella bacteria, mainly Legionella pneumophila, thrive at water temperatures between 20°C and 45°C. These bacteria are generally found in natural water environments, but they can become problematic when they enter human-made water systems.

Where Does Legionella Contamination Occur?

Water that remains stagnant in pipes and is heated to the temperatures mentioned above can pose a health risk. This could include pipework and shower heads in shower rooms that have been unused for extended periods, or even unused hot water pipes in healthcare centers or nursing homes.

In particular, the elderly and other vulnerable groups are susceptible to infection from bacteria that can spread through the air when tap water is aerosolized, for example, during a shower or when the water faucet is turned on.

How Does Legionella Contamination Occur?

Contamination mainly occurs through inhalation of contaminated aerosols, not by ingestion. This means that the Legionella bacteria are found in water mist that can be inhaled. This water mist can be generated by:

• Through the showerhead
• When dispensing hot water
• In hot tubs with air bubbles
• Through humidification with water mist
• Through cooling systems using water mist
• In wet cooling towers

Prevent Legionella with Legionella Shower Heads and Faucets

Medical Membrane Filters

As a preventive measure to reduce the risk of contamination from polluted tap water, it is possible to equip tap points with membrane filters that capture microorganisms such as bacteria of 0.2 Micron and larger. The legionella shower head and faucet can be installed on showerheads and faucets.

Nursing homes, hospitals, and other locations where vulnerable groups of people reside are just a few examples of places where a 'safety buffer' in the form of membrane filters at tap points could be a life-saving preventive measure.

Applications of These Anti-Legionella Shower Heads and Faucets

In practice, it has been found that the following locations with a collective water supply or distribution network have a higher risk of Legionella contamination in drinking water. These are called 'priority' locations, and therefore these are the common situations where Legionella shower heads and faucets can be effectively used:

• Healthcare institutions and hospitals
• Asylum seekers' centers
• Bathing facilities such as swimming pools and saunas
• Gas stations, truck stops, and roadside restaurants with showers
• Campsites and bungalow parks
• Correctional facilities such as prisons and police stations
• Marinas
• Accommodation such as hotels and guesthouses

Non-binding Advice on Legionella Shower Heads and Faucets

Interfilter has various filter systems in its range to purify water from potential bacteria such as Legionella. These include shower heads equipped with membrane technology and adapters fitted with membrane filters that can easily be placed at the end of faucets.

For more information, please contact us at 0181 31 11 87 or send an email to info@interfilter.nl