Legionella prevention in industrial facilities
On an industrial site, cooling towers and process water carry the Legionella risk that domestic-focused regimes miss. How to rank each system and control it.
Legionella control in industrial & manufacturing facilities
Industrial and manufacturing facilities face Legionella risks that go well beyond the hot and cold taps. Many sites operate cooling towers or evaporative condensers, which are among the highest-risk systems of all because they discharge large volumes of aerosol that can travel considerable distances. Several of the most serious outbreaks on record have been traced to poorly maintained cooling towers.
Process water, washdown systems, humidifiers and infrequently used welfare facilities add further hazards, and large sites often have sprawling, complex pipework. Cooling towers also carry legal notification duties to the local authority.
Control starts with a thorough, competent risk assessment that captures every relevant system, not just domestic water. From there, treatment, monitoring and maintenance regimes must match the hazards present. Getting the assessment right is the foundation for everything else on a complex site.
Checked against HSE ACoP L8, HSG274 and the BS standards on 27 June 2026.See what changed ›
What makes this setting different
- Cooling towers and evaporative condensers are very high risk
- Aerosols can travel well beyond the site boundary
- Cooling towers must be notified to the local authority
- Process water, humidifiers and washdowns add hazards
- Large, complex pipework is easily under-assessed
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Guidance for industrial & manufacturing
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Notify your local authority about a cooling tower or evaporative condenser: what counts, what the register is for, and the evidence to keep on file.
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"Legionella control in industrial & manufacturing facilities." Legionella.io. https://legionella.io/for/industrial/
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