Water hygiene in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's historic New Town flats, festival-season short lets, hotels and university buildings see big swings in occupancy. Units that sit empty for long periods between bookings need a documented flushing routine.
Scottish tenement buildings often share cold water storage and have long vertical risers, and the private rented sector here is expected to show that legionella risk has been assessed.
Why local water matters
Water in Edinburgh is generally soft. Softer water produces less limescale, but it can be more corrosive to older metal pipework, and corrosion products and biofilm still need managing through good temperature control and regular flushing.
The rules that apply in Edinburgh
Legionella and water hygiene. In Scotland, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, COSHH 2002 and HSE's ACoP L8 and HSG274 apply. Private landlords are also expected to assess legionella risk as part of the repairing standard.
Local enforcement. In Edinburgh, legionella law is enforced by the City of Edinburgh Council's environmental health team for offices, shops, hotels, restaurants and leisure premises, and by HSE for factories, warehouses, hospitals, schools and council-run premises.
Who we help in Edinburgh
- Private landlords, letting agents and HMO operators
- Freeholders and managing agents of blocks of flats
- Offices, shops and commercial landlords
- Schools, colleges and student accommodation
- Care homes, GP surgeries and dental practices
- Hotels, guest houses and holiday lets
- Factories, warehouses and industrial estates