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020 4532 7773Water hygiene is one of those phrases that turns up in compliance paperwork and contractor quotes without ever being clearly explained. If you manage a building, you have probably seen it — but what do water hygiene services actually include, and does your site need them? This guide breaks it down.
Water hygiene services are the range of tasks that keep a building's water systems clean, safe and legally compliant. They exist to control waterborne risks — most importantly Legionella bacteria, which can cause the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease. Rather than a single job, water hygiene is an ongoing programme covering assessment, monitoring, cleaning and remedial work.
A complete water hygiene programme usually brings together several services:
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, and the HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACOP L8) with guidance HSG274, anyone responsible for a building has a legal duty to control the risk of Legionella. That responsibility falls on the "duty holder" — often the employer, building owner, landlord or managing agent. If you are unsure whether this applies to you, our guide to Legionella risk assessments and who needs one is a good starting point.
Almost any non-domestic building with a water system, including:
Larger or more complex systems — those with stored water, showers, cooling systems or infrequently used outlets — carry higher risk and need more frequent attention.
When comparing providers, look for:
London Water Treatment provides complete water hygiene services across London — from Legionella risk assessments and water sampling to tank cleaning and chlorination. Get in touch for a quote or to review your current compliance.
There is no single answer — it depends on your building and its level of risk. As a general guide: a Legionella risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and whenever your system or how you use it changes; monitoring tasks such as temperature checks and flushing of little-used outlets are carried out on a routine schedule (often monthly or quarterly); and cold water storage tanks are typically inspected annually and cleaned when the inspection shows it is needed. Your risk assessment sets the specific frequencies for your site.
The most serious risk is an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, which can be fatal and is often traced back to poorly maintained water systems. Beyond the human cost, duty holders who fail to manage water safety can face HSE enforcement action, fines and, in serious cases, prosecution — and may find their insurance cover affected. Staying on top of water hygiene is far cheaper and simpler than dealing with the consequences of ignoring it.
Controlling Legionella risk is a legal duty under health-and-safety law and the HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8. While "water hygiene services" is not a single statutory item, the tasks they cover — risk assessment, monitoring and control — are how duty holders meet that obligation.
A plumber installs and repairs; a water hygiene company specialises in assessing and controlling waterborne risk to keep you compliant. Many water hygiene tasks — risk assessments, UKAS sampling and chlorination — require specific training and accreditation.
