Clean water for showering, cooking, or drinking is a standard taken for granted by many. However, it is important that in large and old houses the water quality is regularly checked so that it can be consumed without concern. In Munich, some households are currently receiving notices about the conduct of relevant studies. The reason lies in the need to identify or exclude possible contamination with legionella at an early stage.
Munich City Utilities (SWM) have identified legionella as bacteria: which can occur in almost all natural and artificial moist habitats. At a water temperature from 25 to 50 degrees, these microorganisms can multiply jump-wise. For this reason, legionella find optimal conditions for growth in hot water supply systems. In connection with this, the Ministry of Health has included them in the list of control objects in water supply systems, and strict supervision is now maintained over them.
Legionella in drinking water: what diseases do they cause
According to information from the German Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), the inhalation of aerosols containing legionella (fine water mist) can pose a threat to human health. This can happen, for example, during a shower.
Whoever is infected with legionella, according to information from the Munich authorities, may encounter two different variants of the course of the disease. If the so-called Pontiac fever arises, those affected suffer from flu-like symptoms, which, however, pass already after a few days. Legionnaires’ disease proceeds significantly more severely. In this case, flu symptoms are followed by severe pneumonia with a high fever. Often this requires inpatient treatment in a hospital.
Prohibition on the use of the shower upon detection of bacteria
An infection can affect anyone, however, people with a weakened immune system or swallowing disorders are at particular risk. As soon as legionella are detected in a house, all residents are notified of this. In case of extremely high pollution (that is, 10,000 legionella per 100 milliliters), the use of the shower is prohibited.
As reported by the Munich district administration, this rule applies primarily to rental apartments. According to these norms, installations in commercial but not public buildings must be checked for legionella every three years. According to SWM data, apartment buildings with more than three apartments, at least one of which is rented out, and a central large installation for heating water is used, usually fall under this rule. Houses for one or two families, according to information from the district administration, do not fall under the action of this rule.Source: SWM
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