How to Reduce the Risk of Legionnaire's Disease at Your Bed and Breakfast

Many showers in B&B bathrooms may be unused for extended periods, especially during low seasons when guest turnover is minimal. It's essential to address the potential risk of Legionella bacteria in your water systems if bedrooms haven’t been occupied for a couple of weeks or more.

If you haven’t been running water through the taps and showers regularly, you need to take steps to ensure it’s safe before you welcome guests.

The good news is that it's not a difficult thing to sort out. The South West Tourism Association has kindly allowed me to share their step-by-step guide. Here’s what they have to say:

What is the Risk of Legionnaire's Disease?

Firstly, be aware of the risk of Legionella in water systems. Standing water presents a risk of Legionella bacteria accumulating, particularly in showers. Legionella bacteria is dispersed in airborne water droplets, so the spray created by a shower is the perfect delivery mechanism. Anyone using a contaminated shower risks breathing in the bacteria and developing Legionnaires’ disease as the bug takes hold in the lungs.

Here's how to mitigate this risk:

• Weekly Shower Usage: If your shower has not been used for a week or more, run water from both hot and cold supplies through the shower hose and showerhead for two minutes. To ensure no spray escapes from the showerhead, run it through a bucket of water or full bath.
• Fortnightly Disinfection: If your shower has not been used for two weeks or more, disinfect the showerhead. Remove the showerhead and run the shower for two minutes. Disinfect the showerhead by immersing it for at least an hour in any solution designed for cleaning baby feeding bottles (e.g., Milton). Showerheads should be regularly disinfected about four times a year.
• Temperature Control: Raise the water temperature to 60°C or higher. Temperatures above 60°C will kill Legionella bacteria. Ensure the hot water in your boiler/cylinder is set at a minimum of 60°C. Beware of burns and scalding and take extra care if you have children. Legionella can survive in low temperatures but thrive at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C.
• System Flush: If your property has been empty for a while, flush the whole water system for two minutes or more. First, flush your toilet, then let the kitchen taps and hand basin taps run for two minutes or more to let both hot and cold water pass through. Next, flush the shower as described above. Finally, let any other taps run for two minutes.

If you take these steps now, you’ll need to repeat them shortly before your next bookings arrive.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your B&B's water systems are safe and ready for guests, helping you provide a comfortable and worry-free stay.

You may also be interested in this blog post >> How to Prepare for the Quiet Season at Your B&B