Employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees and an important part of this is the provision of clean drinking water. The outbreak of contaminated water found at a treatment plant in Lancashire was headline news and brought the issue of safe drinking water to the forefront of our minds.

But what can employers do to ensure that their drinking water is safe? You may be thinking that it is surely the responsibility of the utilities companies to provide clean drinking water to the tap. This is partly true, but it is the duty of employers to ensure they have robust water hygiene management strategy in place which involves effective water treatment to reduce the risk of exposure to harmful bacteria such as Legionella.

So what does effective drinking water treatment require?

• Firstly, we recommend an in-depth risk assessment to identify and assess sources of risk, manage any risks and prevent or control any risks. This will include monitoring, inspection and maintenance procedures.

For example, a documented Legionella risk assessment overview will include pipework schematics and photographic evidence. Common sources of Legionella bacteria are water tanks and cooling towers and similar systems that tap into a public water supply. Certain conditions increase the risk of Legionella including the water temperature, any stored or re-circulated waters or deposits supporting bacterial growth.

• Secondly, there needs to be a system in place to keep and maintain the correct records. If you have five or more employees you must record any significant findings, including those identified as being particularly at risk and the steps taken to prevent or control risks.

Records should also include details of the person or persons responsible for conducting the risk assessment, managing, and implementing the written scheme and results of any monitoring inspection, test or check carried out.

• Thirdly, regular water hygiene testing and treatment should be undertaken. A regular water testing service will determine your water quality throughout the system and demonstrate that it meets legal standards.

Water treatment including annual chlorination of domestic water services including cold water storage tanks is the most popular method to disinfect private water supplies. This is required for any new installation and also where major extensions or alterations have been made, where contamination within the system is suspected or if the system has not been in regular use.

Whatever your business – retail, manufacturing, hospitality or healthcare – employers are urged to know their responsibilities and put plans in place to provide safe, clean drinking water.

Brodex offers different sectors services such as Legionella risk assessments, corrective remedial action, water testing, water hygiene, water chlorination, heating system maintenance, TMV servicing and water tank repair. For further information, go to: http://www.brodexuk.com/sectors/