PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING REGULATIONS 2009 (SR NO 178 OF 2009) - REG 58 Legionella detected in cooling tower system

PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING REGULATIONS 2009 (SR NO 178 OF 2009) - REG 58

r. 58

    (1)     Within 24 hours of receiving a report that Legionella has been detected in a water sample taken from a cooling tower system, the responsible person must ensure that the following procedure is implemented—

        (a)     the cooling tower system must be disinfected; and

        (b)     the water treatment program, tower operation and maintenance program of the system must be reviewed; and

        (c)     any faults must be corrected and any changes necessary to prevent a re-occurrence of those faults must be implemented.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.

    (2)     Between 2 and 7 days after the disinfection required by subregulation (1)(a) has been completed, the responsible person must ensure that a further sample of the recirculating water of the system is taken and is delivered to a laboratory for testing and reporting on for Legionella.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.

    (3)     Within 24 hours of receiving a report that Legionella has been detected in a sample taken in accordance with subregulation (2), the responsible person must ensure that the water of the cooling tower system is disinfected, cleaned and re-disinfected.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.

    (4)     Between 2 and 7 days after the disinfection required by subregulation (3) has been completed, the responsible person must ensure that a further sample of the recirculating water of the system is taken and is delivered to a laboratory for testing and reporting on for Legionella.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.

    (5)     If, after following the procedure in subregulations (1), (2), (3) and (4) Legionella is still detected, the responsible person must—

        (a)     ensure that the steps in subregulations (3) and (4) are repeated until Legionella is not detected in 2 consecutive water samples taken approximately one week apart; or

        (b)     close the cooling tower system until the problem has been remedied.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.

    (6)     If, while following the procedure in this regulation Legionella is detected in 3 consecutive water samples taken from the same system, the responsible person must notify the Secretary of the detection of the presence of that organism—

        (a)     immediately by telephone; and

        (b)     by notice in writing within 3 days.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.