Fife’s towns and villages are supplied by water from various reservoirs, operated by Scottish Water, in the Lomond Hills. If you live in Fife it’s likely that your water and sewerage services come from Scottish Water, the cost of which is included in your council tax bill.
Some rural parts of Fife may have a private water supply. This means that their water comes from a spring, borehole, well, river or loch rather than Scottish Water. The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland provides more information about private water management and treatment.
Since 1st April 2008, non-household customers could choose their water supplier in a bid to make water rates more competitive.
Regardless of where your water comes from, new Scottish legislation states that landlords who rent out entire properties or even a room within their home have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their tenants by conducting a Legionella Risk Assessment.
Any water system that stores and/or recirculates water is at high risk of breeding excess amounts of legionella. Below are a few water vessels that should be considered for a regular Legionella Risk Assessment.
From our base in Perth, PHX provide water treatment services across Scotland, including Fife. We service private businesses, hotels, Airbnbs, holiday lets and domestic properties. If you’re a landlord or property manager, our expert engineers can help you with legionella risk assessments, water testing and remedial works.
Legionella bacteria naturally occur in Scotland’s water sources such as rivers, lochs, and reservoirs. These bacteria can infiltrate manmade water systems and breed in your water tank. This is when Legionella becomes hazardous to human life.
Temperature is the most important factor concerning the spread of legionella:
Legionella is commonly transmitted by inhaling contaminated water droplets. Air conditioning cooling towers, hot and cold-water systems, humidifiers, showers and whirlpool spas are common culprits for harbouring legionella.
When you inhale contaminated droplets, you’re at risk of catching Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionnaire’s disease is a potentially fatal pneumonia. It’s frequently misdiagnosed because early symptoms resemble the flu or a cold. Legionnaires’ disease is fatal in around 10% of cases.
Groups at particular risk of Legionnaire’s disease are:
A Legionnaire’s Risk Assessment carried out by competent professionals is the best way to protect against Legionnaires’ disease.
In Fife, any building that has a private water supply must be subject to a legionella risk assessment.
Any water system that stores and/or recirculates water is at high risk of breeding excess amounts of legionella. Below are a few water vessels that should be considered for a regular legionella risk assessment
It’s the law for landlords in Fife, or premises managers, to conduct Legionella Risk Assessments on your holiday lets, Airbnbs or any other residential lettings. Failure to comply with new Scottish Government legislation means you could face hefty fines or imprisonment. The Fife City Council website and HSE provide more information and advice.
The new law also applies to any employer or the person in charge of a commercial premises. If your business operates any kind of water system, such as hot and cold water storage tanks to swimming pools and hot tubs, then you’ll need a Legionella Risk Assessment to keep your business legally compliant.
Landlords can conduct a Legionella Risk Assessment themselves provided they are competent to do so. Double check advice from Fife Council below:
pHX are leading Legionella Risk Assessment providers in Fife. 90% of first-time clients return to us for remedial works because they trust our expert team to keep their water safe and bacteria free.
We’ll keep you compliant with the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8, HSG 274) and rather than leave you with a list of problems, we combine remedial works, legionella testing and ongoing maintenance into one simple monthly repayment.
Our thorough risk assessment process means we’ve got you fully covered when it comes to Legionella and the law.
Complete our contact form or call 01738 472149 to receive a quotation
One of our friendly team will confirm a date and estimated time of arrival for your appointment.
An engineer will be with you on your scheduled date, with a curtesy call to confirm they’re on route.
An engineer will risk assess your water system as outlined above.
You’ll be provided an easy to understand report and digital logbook to manage your ongoing water treatment needs.
It is mandatory that landlords throughout Scotland, including Fife, risk assess their property to reduce the risk of exposure to Legionella. PHX offer full legally compliant Legionella Risk Assessments for landlords, homeowners, and commercial properties.
You are not legally obligated to review your Legionella risk assessment annually but it’s important to test your water from time to time in case anything changes.
The Legionella risk assessment can be carried out by anyone competent to do so. This could be the landlord or a specially trained water treatment company.
A Legionella risk assessment is different from water testing and water sampling. UK law applicable to the Fife area requires you undertake a legionella risk assessment regularly in accordance with the Health and Safety Legislation at Work Act 1974 to show you are compliant with the HSE’s HSG 274 Legionella guidelines.
Following Legionella risk assessment, you may find that water testing or sampling is required as a precaution. Testing and sampling isn’t a legal requirement but may be necessary to ensure your water system is safe and to determine the most efficient way to manage your water system.
An L8 risk assessment and testing or sampling are best carried out together to maximise effectiveness and control.
A commercial Legionella risk assessment in Fife can vary from £250 to over £750.
Domestic Legionella risk assessments vary widely depending on the size of the property, water assets present and whether properties are multiple or single landlord.
Legionella is commonly transmitted by inhaling contaminated water droplets. Air conditioning cooling towers, hot and cold water systems, humidifiers, showers and whirlpool spas are common culprits for harbouring legionella.
Legionella bacteria naturally occurs in Scotland’s water sources such as rivers, lochs, and reservoirs. It can infiltrate manmade water systems and breed in your water tank between temperatures of 20°C and 45°C .
When you inhale contaminated droplets, you’re at risk of catching Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaire’s disease is a potentially fatal pneumonia that’s fatal in around 10% of cases. That’s why it’s important to conduct a regular risk assessment for Legionnaire’s disease.
You cannot usually contract Legionella from drinking contaminated water. It’s more likely to become infected by inhaling tiny droplets of bacteria that contain the infection although you can get Legionnaire’s disease from taps and showers that aren’t used often and where stagnant water gathers.
Yes, our team are available in Fife to perform Legionella Risk Assessments. Contact us on 01738 472149 to book your assessment today.
PHX offer Water Testing & Water Sampling, Legionella Risk Assessments, Private Water Supply Maintenance and Remedial Works to Commercial and Domestic properties in Fife.
Our opening hours are 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Please call us on +44 (0) 1738 231670 or complete the form below. Should your enquiry be urgent, please call our emergency number +44 (0) 7503 343328.
Our opening hours are 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday. Please call us on +44 (0) 1738 231670 or complete our contact form.
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