Legionella – Water Quality Monitoring

Legionella water quality monitoring provides the objective evidence necessary to make sound decisions on managing water quality today and in the future.  It alerts to current, ongoing and/or emerging problems to determine compliance with water standards and to protect human health as well as the environment.  A comprehensive water management plan integrating water quality monitoring with water system testing can assist in the early detection of issues, such as the existence of pathogens including Legionella, for timely response, or the non-existence of issues, for peace of mind.

• What is water quality monitoring?
• Why monitor water quality?
• At what frequency should water quality be monitored?
• What is the right combination of Legionella testing and water quality monitoring?
• Where should I monitor?
• What are benefits of installing monitoring equipment?
• Can I use my existing monitoring equipment?
• What are the parameters for water quality monitoring?

Is your organization at risk for Legionella? Take our free, online CDC Legionella Risk Assessment. If you are at risk, learn about our Legionella risk assessment services.

What is water quality monitoring?

Water quality monitoring is defined as the sampling and analysis of water constituents and conditions.  It is a measure of physical, chemical, biological and microbiological characteristics of water used to alert water management teams about current problems, such as the existence of pathogens, as well as the potential for problems to arise in a water system.

Are you trying to learn the basics about your water? Contact us for free water testing.

Why monitor water quality?

Monitoring water quality provides evidence important to support decisions regarding better protection to human health and the environment.  On a smaller scale, water quality monitoring is verification of the safety and efficiency of an industrial water system program.  Water quality monitoring helps water management team members formulate new processes to better protect human health as well as the environment while optimizing the safety and efficiency of the water system.  In other words, water system monitoring gives peace of mind to the water management team as well as the facility management.

At what frequency should water quality be monitored?

The frequency of water quality monitoring should depend on the water use objectives and be determined by the water management plan team.  Considerations in establishing a frequency schedule should include situation size, historical evidence and system operation changes.  Physical, chemical, biological and microbiological states of water are always subject to change.  Water quality monitoring frequency should be dependent upon these factors as well as monitoring type, e.g. manual, continuous on-line, visual inspection, flow injection analysis, or ion chromatography.

What is the right combination of Legionella testing and water quality monitoring?

The Water Management Program should be designed to consider both Legionella testing and water quality monitoring.  Periodic testing along with frequent to continuous monitoring allows the water management team review of data necessary to make the best decisions, including response or changes necessary, while optimizing costs and water system efficiency.

Where should I monitor?

Areas of the water system that should be monitored include stagnant areas, incoming areas and those areas with higher risk factors, such as cooling towers.  The water management team should review the water system to determine areas most vulnerable that may lead to high risk, high cost and/or liability issues.

What are the benefits of installing monitoring equipment?

The installation and use of water quality monitoring equipment allows for the proactive response to potential water system issues (instead of reactive response to current water system issues) to give protection to human health and the environment as well as lower the risk of loss and liability.

Can I use my existing equipment?

Yes!  Legionella Control Systems can work with your water management team to integrate your current existing equipment into a system that creates the ideal water quality monitoring for your facility.

What are the parameters for water quality monitoring?

The parameters for water system quality monitoring are completely customizable to provide valuable information tailored to your facility for your water management team.  Parameters to consider include water temperature, water pressure, pH levels, conductivity, residual oxidants and turbidity, as well as others.

Contact Legionella Control Systems for CDC Legionella risk assessment and Legionella testing.