Leigonnaires disease and cooling towers

If your premises has or operates a Cooling Tower or Evaporative Condenser, it must be registered with the Local Authority. The principle purpose for this notification process is to identify where potential sources of legionnaires disease are located and allow for easier identification, monitoring and inspection by the enforcing authorities.

Legionnaires Disease

Legionellosis is the collective name given to the pneumonia-like illness caused by legionella bacteria. This includes the most serious legionnaires’ disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever. Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and everyone is susceptible to infection. However, some people are at higher risk, including:

people over 45 years of age
smokers and heavy drinkers
people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease
anyone with an impaired immune system

The bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers. Over recent years there have been a number of outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease associated with wet cooling systems (cooling towers and evaporative condensers), which have often resulted in serious cases of infection and fatalities.

Where does it come from?

Legionella bacteria are widespread in natural water systems, e.g. rivers and ponds. However, the conditions are rarely right for people to catch the disease from these sources. Outbreaks of the illness occur from exposure to legionella growing in purpose-built systems where water is maintained at a temperature high enough to encourage growth, e.g. cooling towers, evaporative condensers, spa pools, and hot water systems used in all sorts of premises (work and domestic).

How do people get it?

People can catch legionnaires’ disease by inhaling small droplets of water, suspended in the air, containing the bacteria. Certain conditions increase the risk from legionella, including:

water temperature between 20–45 °C, which is suitable for growth
creating and spreading breathable droplets of water, e.g. aerosol created by a cooling tower, or water outlets stored and/or re-circulated water a source of nutrients for the organism e.g. presence of sludge, scale or fouling. While most cases of legionnaires’ disease are the result of infections caught in the UK, a number of cases occur abroad. Useful advice on travel can be found from the European Working Group for Legionella Infections ^[2](EWGLI).

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are similar to those of flu, i.e. high temperature, fever and chills, cough, muscle pains and headache. In a severe case, there may also be pneumonia, and occasionally diarrhoea, as well as signs of mental confusion. Legionnaires’ disease is not known to spread from person to person.

How to control the risk of Legionnaires disease?

Advice on control measures can are outlined in Legionnaires' disease - The Control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8)^[1].

Registration of cooling towers and evaporative condensors

Do I need to make a Notification?

All premises where cooling towers and evaporative condensers are situated must register with the local authority under The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992.

Once registered are there conditions?

There are no conditions set for registered cooling towers and evaporative condensers. The prime purpose of this is to identify potential areas that could give rise to spread of infectious disease, for example Legionella, and to ensure preventative measures are taken to eliminate the risk of such infection arising to employees and the public. There are requirements imposed on the duty holder under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the associated Codes of Practices for management and maintenance of water systems.

How do I make an application and how much does it cost?

There is no cost involved in notifying the Council

Use the details at the side of the page to contact us and request a notification form. On receipt of a notification, we will add the details to the public register. Usually, there will be no further requirement for us to contact you. This would only happen if further clarification is required.

What information or evidence will I need to provide?

Any information required to progress your application will be requested by the relevant application form and may include specifics about the water system such as diagram of the system itself, details of the nominated person in control of the site or premises and management plan. However, further information or clarification may be requested but this will not normally affect the notification process.

Are there/inspections or assessments?

Operators of installations should be aware that both the local authority and the HSE will undertake a number of routine health and safety inspection visits to their premises to ensure standards are met overall, this will include the management of wet cooling systems and will take enforcement action where appropriate.

Public Register

All notifications are held on a public register and will remain there until we are notified of any changes. The register can be viewed by request at the Council Offices.