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Water Compliance considerations to protect your business.

In this blog we will cover several regulations, guidance documents, and practices associated with water compliance and control of legionnaires disease in your water system.

What Regulations Are Associated With water Compliance

The main regulations (statuary documents) associated with water compliance and control of legionnaires disease are listed below. These are the regulations used in prosecution should there be a failing in water compliance.

  1. Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (H&SWA) Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – legislation explained (hse.gov.uk)

  2. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (CoSHH) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH) (hse.gov.uk)

  3. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

  4. The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999

  5. The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016

How do I Comply with these regulations?


To comply with the regulations in the UK, there are several documents available to help us interpret and put into practice. These documents are very useful and help consultants to interpret the complex regulations.

  1. ACoP L8 Legionnaires' disease. The control of legionella bacteria in water systems. Approved Code of Practice and guidance

  2. HSG274 Part 1: The control of legionella in evaporative cooling systems

  3. HSG274 Part 2: Legionella bacteria in hot & cold water systems

  4. HSG274 Part 3: The control of legionella bacteria in other risk systems

How Do I Manage Legionella in My Water System?

Here are the main things that you should put in place to comply with relevant regulations. It is crucial to understand that each water system is unique and requires its own assessment and approach to managing it safely. These management approaches are complex and therefore suitable advice should be sought from a competent consultant.




7 steps to managing Legionella in your water system

  1. Undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment – a legionella risk assessment should be undertaken to identify risk systems and associated hazards.

  2. Arrange for the risk assessment to be reviewed regularly – a regular review will help capture and changes or new hazards presented from the water system.

  3. Appoint a person to be responsible – the duty holder should appoint a person to take day to day responsibility of the water systems and associated risks.

  4. Implement training for relevant persons – people who are responsible or carry out tasks should be suitably trained and competent to carry out their duties.

  5. Create and implement a suitable written scheme – a written scheme will identify the control measures required and their frequency.

  6. Undertake any remedial work – where hazards can be removed or reduced, they can often be removed from the water system altogether by carrying out remedial actions.

  7. Regularly review management procedures – a regular review helps to keep things in check and avoid complacency.

There are many complex regulations associated with water compliance and the management of legionella in your water system. There are several documents produced by the HSE to help your business comply with the law. Each water system has unique risks therefore one off and routine tasks need to be bespoke and carefully managed.


Absolute Water Compliance is an organisation that is designed to help you understand your obligations, identify hazards associated with your water system, and help you manage the associated risk. From consultancy to a turnkey service, we have you covered.

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