Legionnaires' disease is potentially fatal. It is a form of pneumonia caused by breathing in small droplets of water contaminated by the Legionella bacteria. It cannot be passed from person to person.

Everyone is potentially at risk, but some people are in a higher risk group, for example those over 45, smokers and heavy drinkers, those suffering from chronic breathing or kidney disease and people who have a damaged immune system.

The Legionella bacteria are found in natural water courses, such as rivers and ponds. However the bacteria reproduce to high numbers in warm, stagnant water (between 20C and 45C) and if the conditions are right, for example if a supply of nutrients is present, such as rust, sludge, scale, algae and other bacteria. This can occur in certain plumbing systems and hot water tanks, cooling towers and evaporative condensers of large air-conditioning systems, and whirlpool spas.

High temperatures of 60C and over will kill them.

Outbreaks of Legionella have occurred after people have breathed in the misty vapour from showers, air conditioning and cooling towers. People may be exposed to these mists in the home, workplace, hospitals or public places.

As your landlord we have a duty under general health and safety law to:

• Identify and assess sources of risk in all our properties;
• Keep a risk register (or course of action) for preventing or controlling the risk;
• Implement and management the risk – appointing a person, at manager level, to be responsible – know as the ‘responsible person:’ and
• Keep records and check that what has been done is effective.

Additional guidance can be found in the Approved Code of Practice and guidance for Legionnaires’ disease on the Health and Safety Executive website,  or contact your local Hyde office for further details.