Excessive concentrations of Legionella in a building's own drinking-water system are a health risk. Legionella are rod-shaped bacteria found in almost all types of water. They can cause a flu-like illness (Pontiac fever) or Legionnaires' disease (legionellosis), a severe pneumonia that can be dangerous, especially for older people, people with weakened immune systems and patients with existing heart or lung conditions.
How can I become infected?
The danger arises mainly when water is breathed in as fine droplets (mist, steam, spray), for example when showering, in a whirlpool or from sprinkler systems. Drinking it is not a risk for people with an intact immune system. Legionella multiply mainly in warm water that stands for a long time, at 25–50 °C. Cold-water pipes can be affected too, through installation errors, uninsulated pipework or outlets that have not been used for more than 7 days.
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