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Hotels, sports and leisure facilities

Whether you operate a business or holiday hotel, sports centre or similar leisure facility, being infected with Legionella bacteria from the water system can be as devastating as being invaded by a plague of rats.

Hotels specialising in business use may be nearly empty at weekends whilst holiday hotels have long periods of under-utilisation in the off-season. These changes in water usage patterns mean some rooms, showers, outlets etc, may not be used for many days, allowing Legionella bacteria to grow in stagnant water in the pipework.

Legionella bacteria can colonise a hotel's cooling towers, its hot and cold water services - even in the misting jets used to keep the salad bar display looking fresh! Because hotels limit the temperature of the hot water to bathrooms to keep from scalding guests, Legionella bacteria are not killed. The increasing number of whirpool spas and hot tubs in hotels and cruise ships emphasise the importance of adequate filtration and disinfection measures coupled with strict application of bather capacity.

Helping hotels, sports and leisure facilities comply with ACoP L8 for the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems is AquaCare Water Hygiene Services’ primary objective.

Useful documents

HSE Guide: Legionnaire's disease - Essential information for providers of residential accommodation - HERE
HSE Guide: Legionnaires' Disease - Controlling the risks associated with using spa baths - HERE

The European Working Group on Legionella Infections coordinates efforts between health professionals, governments and the tourist industry across Europe to reduce travel-associated Legionnaires’ disease. Now, its surveillance network and computerised database connects 36 countries.

Cooling towers have long been thought to be a major source for Legionella, but all the installations below are potential sources:

• Whirlpool spas
• Swimming Pools (open or closed)
• Humidifiers
• Water storage tanks
• Hot water heaters
• Hot water piping system
• Showers and taps
• Turkish baths and saunas
• Ornamental fountains, particularly indoors
• Hot Springs (Waterfalls)
• Decorative Water Curtains

In the UK in 2003, 27 cases of Legionnaires’ disease, including 3 deaths, had spa pools identified as the source of infection. A 2004 study by the Health Protection Agency surveyed over 100 spa pools at 88 premises and found 23 contained legionella bacteria.