Water hygiene in Oxford
Oxford's colleges, research buildings, hospitals and historic properties often contain old, extended pipework and multiple cold water tanks, which call for thorough schematics and careful remedial planning.
Much of the South East is supplied with hard, chalk-aquifer water, so scale management on outlets and hot water plant is a recurring part of a sound water hygiene programme.
Why local water matters
Water in Oxford is generally hard. Hard water deposits limescale on shower heads, taps, TMVs and inside calorifiers. Scale gives legionella bacteria a protected surface to grow on and can stop thermostatic valves working properly, so descaling and servicing intervals should reflect it.
The rules that apply in Oxford
Legionella and water hygiene. In England, legionella duties come from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and COSHH 2002, with HSE's ACoP L8 and HSG274 setting the standard. Enforcement is by HSE or the local authority, depending on the premises.
Local enforcement. In Oxford, legionella law is enforced by Oxford City 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 Oxford
- 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