The summer holidays are a useful time for schools, colleges and education settings to review their water hygiene arrangements.
During periods of reduced use, parts of a school water system may become stagnant. Outlets may be used less frequently, flushing routines may be harder to maintain, and existing issues such as poor temperatures, sediment, scale, dead legs or poorly maintained tanks may become more significant.
Planning gives schools time to review their Legionella risk assessment, arrange any required checks, complete remedial works and prepare for safe reopening after the holiday period.
Before the summer holidays, schools should review their Legionella risk assessment, confirm flushing arrangements for little-used outlets, check hot and cold water temperatures, inspect cold water storage tanks, review outstanding remedial actions and plan reopening checks before pupils and staff return.
These steps help reduce the risk of stagnation, poor temperature control and water quality issues during periods of reduced use.
Why can school water systems become higher risk during summer closure?
Legionella bacteria can grow in purpose-built water systems where conditions allow. The level of risk depends on factors such as water temperature, stagnation, poor turnover, scale, sediment, system condition and how well the water system is managed.
In schools, water use can change significantly during the summer holidays. Some areas may still be used by staff, contractors, holiday clubs or maintenance teams, while other parts of the building may have little or no use for several weeks.
This can affect:
Where parts of the system are used less frequently, water may remain static in pipework for longer periods. If this is combined with poor temperature control, scale, sediment or inadequate monitoring, the risk can increase.
Schools have a wide range of water systems and outlets, so it is important to look beyond the most obvious areas.
Before summer closure, schools should consider whether the following have been reviewed:
Areas to review |
Why it matters |
Legionella risk assessment |
Confirms the current risks, assets and control measures for the school site |
Written scheme of control |
Sets out how risks are managed, monitored and recorded |
Little used outlets / Flushing records |
Helps manage stagnation in taps, showers and rooms used infrequently. Records provide evidence that outlets have been managed during reduced use |
Cold water storage tanks |
Identifies sediment, poor condition, contamination risks or poor turnover |
Hot and cold water temperatures |
Helps confirm whether temperature control remains effective |
Outstanding remedials |
Allows works to be planned before or during the holiday closure |
Reopening checks |
Helps confirm systems are ready before normal occupancy resumes |
This review should be based on the school's Legionella risk assessment and written scheme of control.
Little-used outlets are one of the most common water hygiene issues during school holiday periods. During term time, many taps, showers and other outlets are used regularly. During the summer holidays, that pattern can change, and some areas may have little or no use for several weeks.
Little-used outlets may include:
Where outlets are not used regularly, water can remain within pipework for longer periods. This can increase the risk of stagnation, particularly where there are also issues such as poor temperature control, scale, sediment or dead legs.
Before the summer break, schools should identify which outlets are likely to become little-used and decide how they will be managed during the closure period.
For some schools, this may include a planned flushing regime. Before the holiday period begins, schools should confirm:
If a suitable flushing regime cannot be maintained during the closure period, the school should consider alternative control measures. Depending on the level of risk, the condition of the system and the length of reduced use, this may include cleaning and disinfection before the building reopens.
Records are important. Schools should be able to demonstrate how little-used outlets have been managed during the period of reduced use, including any flushing, cleaning, disinfection or reopening checks completed.
Cold water storage tanks should be reviewed before summer because warmer weather can make temperature control more challenging.
A cold water storage tank should be suitable for the system it serves, protected from contamination, clean and operating correctly. Issues such as sediment, biofilm, missing or damaged lids, poor insulation, incorrectly screened overflows or poor turnover can affect water quality and increase risk.
Before the summer closure, schools should consider whether tanks have been inspected and whether any issues have been identified, such as:
Where a tank supplies potable outlets, its condition should be suitable for that use. If a tank has significant sediment, contamination, poor turnover or poor physical condition, it may require cleaning, disinfection, remedial works or further review.
For more information, check out our blog: Cold Water Storage Tanks: Repair, Replace, or Remove?
What water hygiene checks should be completed before school closure?
Before the main closure period begins, schools should review whether routine water hygiene control measures are still being completed and recorded.
This may include checking:
Cold water should be maintained below 20 °C where possible. Hot water should be stored at 60 °C or above and distributed so that it reaches 50 °C within one minute at outlets.
These checks help schools confirm whether water hygiene control measures remain suitable before occupancy reduces.
How can summer building works affect Legionella control?
The summer holidays are often used for planned works, refurbishments and maintenance projects.
These works can affect water systems, especially if they involve:
Any changes to the water system should be considered from a Legionella risk management perspective.
For example, if an outlet is removed but pipework is left in place, this may create a dead end. If a room is refurbished but outlets are not commissioned or used regularly, they may become little-used. If a tank continues to serve only a small part of the building, turnover may become poor.
Where building works are planned, schools should make sure water hygiene considerations are included before, during and after the project.
Why should schools review outstanding remedial actions before summer?
The summer closure can be a useful opportunity to complete remedial actions identified during a Legionella risk assessment, monitoring visit or tank inspection.
These may include:
Schools should review their current action log before the summer break and decide which actions can realistically be completed during closure.
This is especially useful where works may be disruptive during term time.
Legionella Risk Assessment: What it is, Who Needs One, and Legal Duties Explained
Do schools need a Legionella risk assessment before the summer holidays?
Schools do not necessarily need a new Legionella risk assessment simply because it is summer. However, they should have a suitable and sufficient Legionella risk assessment in place.
A review may be needed if:
For schools, the risk assessment should give a clear picture of the water system, the risks present and the control measures needed.
If the assessment is unclear, incomplete or no longer reflects the site, the summer planning period may be a suitable time to arrange a review.
What should schools check before reopening after summer?
Water hygiene planning should also consider what happens before pupils and staff return.
Before reopening, schools may need to review:
The aim is to avoid discovering issues only when the school is fully occupied again.
Where there has been a prolonged period of reduced use, poor control, missed flushing or changes to the system, additional checks may be required before normal use resumes.
Check out our blog: Back to School, Back to Compliance
School summer water hygiene checklist
Before the summer holidays, schools should consider the following checklist.
1. Review your Legionella risk assessment
Check whether it still reflects the site, water systems and current use of the building
2. Confirm your written scheme is being followed
Make sure responsibilities, monitoring, flushing and record keeping are clear.
3. Identify little-used outlets
Pay particular attention to showers, rarely used classrooms, disabled toilets, staff areas and temporary buildings.
4. Plan how reduced use will be managed
Confirm which outlets need to be managed, who is responsible, what records are needed and what should happen if flushing cannot be maintained.
5. Check tank condition
Review whether cold water storage tanks have been inspected and whether cleaning, disinfection or remedial works are required.
6. Review temperatures
Check whether hot and cold water temperatures are being achieved and recorded.
7. Complete planned remedials
Use the closure period to complete works that may be harder to arrange during term time.
8. Review summer building works
Make sure any refurbishment, pipework alteration or change of use has been considered from a water hygiene perspective.
9. Prepare for reopening
Plan checks before the building returns to normal occupancy, including whether cleaning, disinfection or sampling may be required based on risk.
How BrodexTrident can help schools prepare for summer closure
BrodexTrident supports schools, colleges and education settings with practical water hygiene and Legionella control services.
This can include:
If your school is preparing for the summer holidays, the time leading up to it is a useful time to review your water hygiene arrangements and schedule any required checks or remedial works before the main closure period.
Preparing your school site for the summer holidays? Contact BrodexTrident to discuss Legionella risk assessments, water hygiene monitoring, tank inspections, tank cleaning and disinfection, TMV servicing and remedial support.