Hot summers and water; a well-known association. Swimming pools, plant sprayers, garden hoses, but also your own shower. With the warm weather, a legionella infection is lurking. Standing water can become a breeding ground for the legionella bacteria, which can make you seriously ill. How can you prevent this?
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If standing water heats up, the Legionella bacteria can settle in it. You can eventually get sick if you inhale the mist of this water. “Think of a headache, fever, shortness of breath or pneumonia,” says Diana Snijder from Veterans Disease Foundation, a patient organization for people who have or have had to deal with a legionella infection. Veterans’ disease is pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria.
In 2017 there are at the RIVM 550 reports of a legionella infection. “These are the latest annual figures, but we dare to say that they have now at least tripled. And ten to twenty percent die from the consequences.”
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“We also assume underreporting,” says Dick Reijman of the sector organization Techniek Nederland. That is why it is important to take preventive measures. For example when you come back from vacation. Then flush all water pipes for 4 to 5 minutes and prevent you from inhaling the water mist (small droplets). Also do this at your holiday destination, especially if you know that the apartment or house may not have been used for a week.”
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Misunderstandings about legionella
According to the patient organization StVZ, there are many misunderstandings about legionella. Snijder: ,,Then people say: ‘Oh yes, that’s in chicken, isn’t it?’. No, that’s salmonella. I know better than anyone how dangerous it can be, because my husband has been on a ventilator in the intensive care unit for days. We used to think that only the elderly or smokers were at risk, but more and more younger people are coming to us. There are dangers lurking every day. Recently, a fit man came to us who had contracted it while running along a farm where watering was being done.”
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That is why it is also good to rinse a garden hose or not to leave a plant sprayer with water in it for too long. Reijman warns people who want to lower the temperature of hot tap water in the central heating boiler for energy savings: “Make sure that the hot water from all taps has a temperature of at least 55 degrees. The legionella bacteria grows in water with a temperature between 20 and 50 degrees.”
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Snijder: ,,The coming months are busy for us. Holidays and warm weather increase the risk of infection. Especially if the schools and sports clubs will open again after the summer holidays. The complaints can be somewhat similar to corona. If you test negative for that and get pneumonia, for example, you can ask your doctor whether it might be a legionella infection. They can measure that with a urine test.”
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7 tips from Techniek Nederland to prevent legionella contamination
– After the holiday, rinse all cold and hot water taps for 4 to 5 minutes.
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– Let the water flow smoothly and avoid misting the water. This can be done by holding the spray head under water in a bucket, in a washcloth or by removing the nozzle from the tap. It is good to leave the room for a while when you are rinsing.
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– A garden hose that hangs in full sun can also heat up considerably, which can cause legionella to develop. Therefore, first flush a garden hose, if it is not used daily. Avoid nebulization here too.
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– It is often possible to set the temperature of the hot water yourself. Make sure the hot water from all taps is at least 55 degrees.
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– Never adjust the drinking water installation yourself, but have it done by a recognized installation company. It is especially important to prevent ‘dead pipes’ and heating of cold water by adjacent hot pipes (hotspots) during the construction and modification of the drinking water installation.
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– Hot tub (spa, whirlpool, jacuzzi, hot tub) regularly clean and disinfect according to the instructions for use.
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– Also flush all taps for a few minutes on the holiday contamination.
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