Legionella control
If your building has a water-cooling tower, you must understand your legal responsibilities to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella bacteria.
What is Legionella?
Legionella is a type of bacteria that can grow in water-cooling systems. When inhaled through tiny airborne water droplets, it can cause Legionnaires’ disease—a serious form of pneumonia. People with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
Council’s responsibilities
Council is required to:
- keep a register of regulated systems
- inspect cooling towers as required under the:
Your responsibilities
If you own or manage a building with a water-cooling system, you must:
- maintain the system in line with:
- As the occupier, you must provide reportable test results to Council if your premises has a regulated system.
This is a legal requirement.
In the event of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak, Council and NSW Health will urgently request this information to help identify the source.
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