Legionella Testing & Laboratory Water Analysis

Specialist microbiological detection solutions.

Water Treatment Services is a leading water and environmental engineering specialist company offering UKAS accredited legionella testing, laboratory water quality analysis and in-field sampling solutions to businesses throughout the UK and Ireland.

Our water testing and sampling solutions have been developed to accurately identify whether your systems meet the safety and water quality standards set by the Health & Safety Executive for permitted levels of Legionella bacteria in water.

Such analysis helps to improve water safety standards, provides confirmation that your water management and control activities are effective, will help to improve regulatory compliance, and keep people safe.

Our laboratory tests will tell you if your water meets legal safety standards for legionella.

Expert legionella testing and water sampling

Our specialist testing and in-field water sampling services for the detection of legionella and other waterborne pathogens includes:

Legionella Analysis
Expert UKAS accredited laboratory tests for Legionella bacteria and technical support services.
Additional laboratory tests
Comprehensive suite of additional laboratory based water, microbial and chemical tests.
In-field sampling.
Expert in-field water sampling.
DIY water sampling
DIY water sampling services (with full step-by-step instructions).
Monitoring & Validation
Latest in-field water analysis equipment to monitor and validate water treatment programme performance.

Full national UK coverage

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained water safety risk assessors, in-field service specialists and technical experts we can offer professional, cost effective water sampling and laboratory analysis solutions across the whole of the UK.

Contact Water Treatment Services today to learn how our Legionella testing and wider water safety risk management solutions can help ensure your risks are managed effectively and the regulatory compliance standards set in this important area are achieved and maintained. To speak with one of our water safety experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use the button below to get our full contact details or submit our contact form.

Is your water system legionella free?

Our laboratory tests can quickly and accurately identify whether your water systems meet the water quality standards set by the Health & Safety Executive for the permitted levels of Legionella bacteria in water.

Delivered through our network of independent UKAS accredited laboratories we are able to offer specialist Legionella detection and analysis services that are designed to accurately verify whether your water systems are contaminated with dangerous levels of Legionella bacteria, the bacterium responsible for the potentially fatal condition Legionnaires’ disease.

Why should you test for legionella?

The Health & Safety Executive recommend that periodic water samples should be taken and tested for the presence of legionella to ensure bacteria counts are maintained within acceptable limits and adequate control over the water system is being achieved.

The frequency of such testing should reflect the type of water system, the level of risk, and the specific recommendations identified in the Legionella risk assessment.

Testing domestic hot & cold water for legionella

The Health & Safety Executive in their ACOP L8 and guidance document HSG274 Part 2 do not normally require domestic hot and cold water systems to be tested for legionella if they are well managed and are under adequate control. However, testing of domestic hot and cold water services is recommended under the following circumstances:

Chemical Treatment Programme
Where control of a water system is achieved through chemical means and water temperatures are reduced below those identified in the HSE’s ACOP L8.
Initially legionella testing should be carried out monthly to confirm system control is being achieved.
The frequency of water testing should then be reviewed and continued until there is confidence in the effectiveness of the chemical treatment programme to control levels of legionella.
Poor Levels of Control
Where the control levels set in the water treatment programme (either by temperature control or chemical concentrations) are not being achieved satisfactorily.
Under such circumstances a thorough review of the legionella control programme should be carried out and appropriate action taken.
Frequent legionella testing, initially on a weekly basis, should be carried out to confirm system control is being achieved.
Once the water system is shown to be under control, the frequency of water testing should be reviewed
High risk situations
In high-risk areas or where there is a local population with increased susceptibility, for example in hospitals and healthcare premises including care homes.
Outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease
Where the water services are linked to an outbreak or suspected outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease or legionellosis.

Testing cooling towers for legionella

The Health & Safety Executive call for cooling tower waters to be routinely tested for Legionella at least every three months. However, more frequent Legionella testing of cooling towers is recommended under the following circumstances:

During an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease
During an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease or legionellosis where additional testing can forensically help to identify potential sources of the bacteria.
New Cooling Tower or Control Programme
Legionella sampling and testing should be carried out weekly when commissioning a new cooling tower or where a new or modified water treatment programme is introduced.
Once the water system is shown to be under control, the frequency of testing should be reviewed.
Positive legionella test
More frequent water sampling may be required if a Legionella-positive test result occurs.
Such additional testing can help with improvements in risk management activities, identify the source of the contamination and confirm when the cooling tower is back under control.
legionella risk assessment
Where the Legionella risk assessment identifies an increased level of risk and recommends more frequent sampling is required. This may be because of a cooling towers close proximity to a susceptible population e.g. a hospital or care home.

Legionella sampling & testing services

Water Treatment Services offer two professional water sampling and legionella testing services to assist you in your compliance activities.

Managed Water Sampling Services
Our managed water sampling service involves one of our in-field technicians visiting your site at an agreed time to take samples from your water systems.
If required they will also help to identify suitable sampling points.
Details of the sampling points and water samples are then recorded and the samples taken to the laboratory for evaluation.
DIY Water Sampling
Our “do-it-yourself” sampling service involves us providing you with a comprehensive kit that includes specially sterilised 1 litre sample bottles, labels, and full instructions together with a FREEpost return facility.
This sampling kit will allow you to collect the samples, record details of each sample point correctly and then courier them to us for evaluation.

Our legionella water sampling and laboratory analysis services can be performed on a one-off or contract basis to suit your specific needs. Please contact us to discuss your water analysis requirements in more detail… contact us →

How long does legionella testing take?

Typically, legionella testing in one of our laboratories will use a standard culture method which usually takes between 10 and 12 days to complete and return a result. However, sometimes our tests can indicate a potential legionella positive result earlier than the normal 10 to 12 days. If this happens then customers would be notified immediately and the results and their implications explained in detail.

Legionella testing & relevant standards

The main British Standards relevant to the detection of legionella and sampling methods include:

BS 7592:2008
Code of practice. Sampling for Legionella bacteria in water systems.

BS EN ISO 11731-2:2017
Water quality. Enumeration of Legionella.

Additional microbiological tests

In addition to our legionella testing services we can also test for a variety of other microbial organisms including:

Total Viable Counts (TVCs)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Pseudomonas species
Coliforms
E.coli
Clostridia
Enterococci
Staphylococcus aureus
Moulds
Fungi

Expert legionella testing & water sampling support

Contact Water Treatment Services today to find out more about our UKAS legionella testing and professional in-field water sampling services and how they can help improve your validation and regulatory compliance processes.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of trained Legionella risk assessors, in-field site service specialists and technical experts we can offer professional, cost effective water quality analysis and environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK.

Contact us now for more information or for your FREE, no obligation quote.