RESIDENTS of Reading apartment block were advised not to use their showers after routine maintenance produced a positive test for legionella.
Those living in Thames Quarter, Napier Road, were contacted by building management last week, who confirmed that a sample of water had tested positive for the bacteria.
While kitchen sinks were still safe to use for drinking water and food preparation, residents were advised to avoid using showers and linked attachments.
Baths and washbasins were also deemed safe to use.
This is because legionella does not cause disease through being consumed or skin contact, but through inhalation of water droplets.
In an email to residents, building management explained that they consulted with a water hygiene specialist who advised disinfecting cold water tanks as a precautionary measure.
They carried out the subsequent work from Saturday-Sunday, January 6-7.
Legionella is a bacteria which can cause a number of medical conditions, including Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
It is common in natural sources of water such as rivers and lakes, but it is rare to catch the disease from these sources.
Outbreaks usually occur from water systems where temperatures are high enough to encourage the bacteria to grow, such as cooling towers– between around 25-45’C.
The risk of legionella is increased if the water system creates breathable water droplets, such as through showers, or if it stores or re-circulates the water.
Flooding, such as that seen across the country in recent days, can lead to natural water sources contaminating domestic water systems.
As well as Legionnaire’s disease, it can also cause less serious medical conditions such as Pontiac fever.
Risk is higher in people over the age of 45, smokers and heavy drinkers, and those with chronic respiratory or kidney disease, diabetes, lung and heart disease, or an impaired immune system.
A representative of Savill’s, the agent which manages the building, said: “We can confirm that treatment works were quickly initiated at the scheme following regular planned maintenance works of the water distribution system and are taking place under the supervision of water hygiene experts in line with industry best practice to safely restore services as quickly as possible.
“The safety of residents is always our primary concern and we remain in regular contact with them on the outcome of the works and apologise for the inconvenience.”
