Legionella & Water Compliance in Hospitality: Why 2025 Demands a Proactive Approach

Why the Hospitality Sector Can’t Ignore Legionella

The UK hospitality industry is facing a rising threat that isn’t always visible,but can be deadly: Legionella bacteria.

In warm, stagnant water environments,showers, hot tubs, spas, and even decorative fountains,Legionella can thrive. If inhaled as an aerosol (e.g., from a shower), it can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal type of pneumonia.

This risk is especially pronounced in hotels, spas, gyms, resorts, and holiday parks, where complex water systems and variable occupancy can create ideal conditions for bacterial growth.

2024–2025: The Alarming Data surrounding Legionella 

Legionella isn’t just a theoretical threat, its a growing reality in the UK:

• 604 confirmed cases in 2023 in England and Wales—the highest since 2017.

  
  
  
  

• Continued rise in 2024, with early 2025 reports suggesting the trend has not slowed.

  
  
  
  

• 90% of outbreaks were linked to failures in identification, management, or monitoring.

  
  
  
  

• Notably, 13% of samples tested by some contractors in 2024 were found to contain Legionella bacteria.

  
  
  
  

Outbreaks have resulted in business closures, severe fines, and damaged reputations,including several six-figure penalties issued between late 2024 and early 2025.

Understanding the Risk for Your Business

Hotels and leisure venues often have:

• Complex plumbing networks

  
  
  
  

• Infrequently used rooms or suites

  
  
  
  

• Hot tubs and spa facilities

  
  
  
  

• Outdoor water features

  
  
  
  

Water stagnation, temperature fluctuations, and limescale buildup all contribute to ideal Legionella conditions. Even sustainability upgrades like low-temperature heating systems or heat pumps can increase risk if not properly managed.

How can Absolute Water Compliance help with Legionella compliance?

Absolute Water Compliance is a proactive, holistic approach to managing Legionella risk. It goes far beyond tick-box inspections. It includes:

1. Comprehensive Risk Assessments

   
   

   Annual or biennial evaluations of your entire water system—not just major outlets.

2. Written Scheme of control

   
   

   (WSC) is a formal document that outlines the measures and procedures in place to monitor, control, and manage specific risks, particularly Legionella bacteria in water systems.

3.  Aligning with BS 8680 guidance, businesses should implement a structured Water Safety Plan, led by a Water Safety Group.

   
   
   
   

4. Digital Record-Keeping

   
   

   Compliance logs, corrective actions, and scheduled tasks tracked automatically and available for inspection.

   
   
   
   

5. Staff Training

   
   

   Housekeeping, maintenance, and management staff should be trained in Legionella awareness and response protocols.

   
   
   
   

Business Benefits of maintaining water compliance.

✔ Avoid Legal Penalties – Recent UK fines have exceeded £600,000 for Legionella management failures.

✔ Protect Guest & Staff Safety – Prevention is more affordable—and reputationally safer—than response.

✔ Insurance Support – Strong compliance improves claims defensibility and may reduce premiums.

✔ Operational Continuity – Preventive maintenance reduces the risk of sudden closures or emergency interventions.

✔ Sustainability Integration – Ensures that green systems (e.g., solar, heat pumps) don’t come at a hidden health cost.

Implementation Checklist for Hospitality Operators

StepAction

1

Update Legionella risk assessment (if older than 12 months or after any water system change).

2

Appoint a Responsible Person and form a Water Safety Group (if applicable).

4

Digitally store logs, certificates, and remedial actions for 5 years.

5

Train relevant staff in water hygiene and incident escalation.

6

Audit regularly and revise your Water safety programme as needed.

Final Thoughts

With Legionella cases reaching record levels and enforcement tightening, Absolute Water Compliance is no longer optional, it’s essential. Hospitality businesses must adopt a forward-thinking approach that blends legal compliance, guest safety, and operational resilience.

If you’re unsure where your property stands or want to modernize your Legionella controls, now is the time to act.

Need Help Getting Compliant?

We provide full-service support to the hospitality industry, including:

• Legionella risk assessments

  
  
  
  

• Water safety planning

  
  
  
  

• Staff training sessions