Water safety in your home

What you can do in your home?

8 simple steps you can take: 

• Maintain a hot water storage temperature of no less than 60 Degrees. This is controlled via your hot water cylinder or combination boiler. N.B. Due to the high temperature of the stored water, children should be supervised when using outlets to avoid scalding
• If the property has been vacated for several days, always run the taps for a few moments to flush through until the temperature cools down or heats to correct temperature
• When rinsing food or other items, do not allow them to come into contact with the spout of the taps
• Regularly clean showerheads and tap outlets to prevent the build up of limescale
• After carrying out any cleaning of outlets, you should always run the outlets for several moments to remove any residues of any cleaning/disinfecting products that may remain
• Run hot water through the taps or showers for about 5-10 minutes once every three months
• Keeping outlets free of scale and debris may increase the water pressure, and could not only reduce the amount of water being used but the energy used to heat it, which will also help to save this most precious commodity and the environment
• Ensure that there are no unnecessary areas of stagnant or standing water.

What we will do in your building?

The water supplied to the taps within your property is consistently tested for quality, taste and presence of bacteria by the local water authority and is generally considered to be one of the best in the world.

As with all things natural, bacteria good and bad will always be present and although the water in your property is treated, this will not guarantee that everything will be eradicated.

Due to the complex nature of water and the pipe work it is delivered through, there is always a risk of bacteria being present that has not been eliminated by normal disinfection processes carried out by the Water Board.

To ensure no bacterial growth is occurring within our communal water services, we carry out a constant programme of monitoring and assessment throughout our stock as required by Health and Safety legislation.

Checks we carry out include

• Risk Assessments, these are reviewed on a two year rolling basis to look out for any changes
• Temperature checks
• Water sampling
• Check for correct plumbing operations
• Check for infestation or contamination of water

If good standards of hygiene are not maintained, in severe cases, it's known to be a contributory factor in people contracting Legionnaires disease.

Legionnaires disease

Legionnaires disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhaling the legionella bacteria. It can affect anybody, but some people are at higher risk including those over 45, smokers, heavy drinkers, those suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney diseases, and people with a weakened immune system.

Legionella are bacteria that are common in natural water sources such as rivers and lakes and artificial hot and cold water systems, including storage tanks, pipe-work, taps and showers in very low numbers. If conditions are favourable the bacterium may grow creating conditions which increase the risk, hence the need to ensure high standards of water hygiene are maintained.

Dealing with a water leak

What to do

• If there is an external leak, call your water/utilities supplier
• If it is an internal problem, please call BHP Repairs Service

Practical tip:

• If at all possible, isolate the water at the stop cock and wait for assistance

Find out more

The following water authorities have also published booklets on water hygiene in the home and water saving devices that are freely available to their customers

• Thames Water - Water saving devices
• Thames Water - Water in your home
• Veolia Water - Water saving devices
• Water UK - Looking after water in your home - Consumer guide

Contact us

To contact us about any issues, concerns or general advice, please contact our Building Services Team:

• Telephone: 020 8937 2475
• Email: buildingservices@bhphousing.co.uk

Download

You can download our 'Water safety in your home' leaflet in portable document format (pdf).

• Water safety in your home (.pdf, 654Kb)

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