Your health and safety are our top priorities. One thing we want to help you stay safe from is Legionnaires’ Disease. This rare but serious illness can be caused by something many of us take for granted - water.

What is Legionnaires’ Disease?
It is a serious type of lung infection. You can catch it by breathing in tiny water droplets that contain Legionella bacteria. It is not passed from person to person.

Anyone can get Legionnaires’ Disease, but some people are more at risk. This includes people over 45, smokers, heavy drinkers and people with certain health conditions like lung or kidney disease.

Where Does Legionella Come From?
Legionella bacteria can grow in water systems - especially in places where the water isn’t hot or cold enough, or hasn’t been used for a while. Showers, taps, garden hoses and water tanks can all be affected. 

That’s why it’s important to keep your water system clean, safe and moving.

Simple Steps to Stay Safe
Keep it Hot
Make sure your hot water stays hot. The water from your tap should reach at least 50°C after running for one minute. Your hot water system should be set to reach 60°C to kill bacteria.

Keep it Cold
Cold water should stay cold. If it still feels warm after running for a bit, please let us know. Cold water should not be warmer than 20°C.

Keep it Clean
Clean your shower heads and taps regularly to stop bacteria from building up. Descale them every few months to help keep everything flowing properly.

Keep it Moving
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for Legionella. Run your taps, showers and garden hoses at least once a week, especially if they aren’t used often. Letting water sit in pipes or hoses for too long can be unsafe - especially if left in the sun.

We know running water may feel wasteful. The average cost to run water for two minutes is:

•    Shower: 14 litres – 2.1p
•    Tap: 16 litres – 2.4p
•    Bath: 20 litres – 3p

A small cost can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe.

If you notice a problem, please call us straight away on 0300 003 5454 if:

•   Your boiler or hot water isn’t working properly, or the water doesn’t get hot enough.
•   Cold water comes out warm, even after running it.
•   You see discoloured water or debris in your taps or shower.
•   You think something isn’t right with your water system.

Important: Never change the settings on your boiler or hot water tank. These are set to keep your water at a safe temperature.

If You Use Your Shower Occasionally
If your shower is only used once a week or less, we recommend that you:

•   Run it for at least 2 minutes each week to flush out the system.
•   Avoid breathing in the spray during this time - keep windows open and stay back if you can.