This case study is focused on a large food processing client in the South of England. The food processor is a major supplier to many supermarkets throughout the UK and Europe. Cooling towers are in place to optimise factory cooling which forms a crucial role in maintaining food quality.
Clearwater Technology was invited to take over and maintain the water treatment regime on site, in line with ACOP L8 2001 guidelines. During initial routine legionella sampling a high legionella count was recorded, requiring an emergency shutdown and disinfection. In this case system downtime would have resulted in a large amount of production downtime which would have cost thousands of pounds for the processing company and also jeopardised their status as a reliable supplier to the retail industry. A team of skilled operatives was quickly assembled and the chlorination works were carried out during the same evening that the legionella positive results were confirmed. This proved to our client that we are a company that responds in a swift and professional manner.
All of the clean and disinfection works were carried out in accordance with the guidelines set out in ACOP L8 (2001) ‘The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems’.
Post chlorination samples for Legionella and TVC were all clear, showing that the chlorination works had been successful.
Clearwater also highlighted a need for the client to have an up to date water risk assessment.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH) relate to the risk from hazardous micro-organisms, including Legionella and chemicals such as biocides and chlorine. Under these regulations, risks assessments and the adoption of appropriate precautions are required to be made.
The Approved Code of Practice ACOP L8, The control of legionella bacteria in water systems sets out further requirements for dealing with this risk. It applies whenever water is stored and used in a way which may create a reasonably foreseeable risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria and, in particular, to the following plant and systems whenever the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 applies:
(a) Water systems incorporating a cooling tower;
(b) Water systems incorporating an evaporative condenser;
(c) Hot and cold water systems;
(d) Other plant and systems containing water which is likely to exceed 20oC and which may release a spray or aerosol during operation or when being maintained.
The risk assessment conducted by Clearwater highlighted the fact that the dosing equipment installed on the cooling towers was inadequate for the system load and did not fully comply with ACOP L8 2001 guidelines. It was also revealed that a water softener was not present.
Clearwater Technology was promptly asked to install ACOP L8 compliant dosing equipment utilising an oxidising biocide and poisoning biocide for optimum bacterial control, along with suitably sized duplex water softeners.
To this day, both the equipment and water softeners are serviced and maintained by Clearwater Technology and our client can be reassured by the service offered by our team of professional water treatment specialists.
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