Reduce Risk Re-Opening Water Systems for Commercial and Industrial Facilities

It is vital to properly re-open you facility’s water systems for protecting health and safety. Contact Legionella Control Systems at  888-416-8626 or info@legionellacontrolsystems.com to discuss how we can help.

Health safety issues may arise when water systems have been idle or at minimum capacity for an extended time. The combination of stagnant water in piping, tanks, and valves can cause biological, mechanical, and chemical issues with systems. This is an important safety consideration for all facilities, including hotels, office buildings, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings, and industrial plants.

Facility Water Systems and Industrial Water Equipment Biological Issues:

Starting up systems without a proper re-opening can lead to dangerous waterborne diseases like Legionella. There are three key factors that cause this:

• Stagnant water – Stagnant water fosters optimal conditions for biofilm growth. Biofilm is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.
• Disinfectant loss – As water sits over time the disinfectants like chlorine begin to wear off. As these chemicals lose their potency, water is more likely to grow bacteria.
• Temperature – As water sits in pipes it often gets warmer, especially in mechanical and boiler rooms. These temperature changes increase biological growth in water systems

Facility Water Systems and Industrial Water Equipment Mechanical Issues:

Leaks and failures are also more common in water systems that have been shut down for an extended time. Here are some reasons why:

• Industrial Softener and Filter Leaks on 0-rings, seals, and fixtures – Throughout your building, the chance of scale formation on your fixtures is elevated as well as the chance for leaks.
• Valves on industrial softeners and filters get stuck  – All industrial water softeners and filters have valves that will open and close during regeneration and when they alternate from service to standby. When these valves have been either open or closed for an extended period of time, it is more likely for them to stay that way and not want to actuate when called for. Over time, water scaling can form on these valves and pistons in the equipment. If major scaling does occur the valve will be stuck in the position it is in. This can cause the system to have a poor regeneration leading to hard water throughout the building. In a worst-case scenario, when the softener alternates, water can be completely shut off to the entire facility. Similarly, it is also important to check the mechanics of the system to make sure that controls are working.

 Facility Water Systems and Industrial Water Equipment Chemical Issues:

Sanitizing and flushing systems and piping is critical to keep staff, clients, and patients safe because:

• Chemicals can leach – Stagnating water leaches materials from the piping systems and this leaching is a function of time. Of particular concern are copper and lead levels in water.  No amount of lead is considered acceptable in water. Action levels are often 5 -15 ppb of lead in the water where the EPA has set maximum contaminant level of copper at 1.3 mg/L

How Do I Re-Open My Facility’s Water Systems and Equipment?

Re-opening your commercial or industrial water systems requires specific, expert knowledge in industrial water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, deionization systems, and industrial filters.  Please call Legionella Control Systems at 888-416-8626 or email us at info@legionellacontrolsystems.com so we can provide expert assistance and keep you safe.