Your guide to good water hygiene | Tenant news

Maintaining good water hygiene is vital to help prevent bacterial diseases.

Legionella is a water-borne bacteria that is usually associated with larger water systems found in hospitals and cooling towers. The bacteria can also thrive in smaller water systems used in homes, and it can lead to legionnaires' disease - a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.

Legionella bacteria can affect anyone, but those more likely to be affected by it are people over the age of 50, heavy smokers and drinkers, and people with an already suppressed immune system.

The good news is that legionella bacteria can be managed, and all tenants can play a part in maintaining water safety in their homes.

Water safety at home

If you live in one of our schemes, there are a number of ways you can practice good water hygiene in your home and reduce the risks from legionella bacteria.

1. When you first move into your home, flush all hot and cold outlets for several minutes on the highest setting, by turning a tap or shower on. This will get rid of any stagnant water in the system.
2. If your property has an electric shower, flush this for several minutes, on the highest temperature setting. Ensure all hot water outlets are sufficiently heated prior to use, as heat kills bacteria.
3. If you go on holiday or are away from your home for more than one week, flush all of your water outlets (taps, shower and toilets) for several minutes as soon as you return. This is especially important in the summer months, but it is good practice to do this every time you go away.
4. If you have any water outlets that you do not use weekly, please run these for several minutes every week.
5. As a minimum, showerheads should be cleaned and disinfected every three months.

Wet wipes

Nobody likes the prospect of a blocked drain, but how many of our own daily habits could be contributing to the risk of blockages right where we live?

Thousands of tons of wet wipes and other sewer blockers make their way into our sewer network each year, according to Southern Water.

Wet wipes are one of the biggest causes of blockages in sewers and at wastewater treatment works. Even wipes described as 'flushable' cause blockages and the biodegradable ones often don’t spend long enough in the sewer to start to decompose.

The only things that should be flushed down the toilet are the three Ps: pee, poo and paper. Toilet paper decomposes naturally and can be flushed away safely.

Everything else, including wet wipes, sanitary pads or tampons, should be placed in a paper bag and put in an outdoor bin.

Environmental organization Trvst suggests some good alternatives to wet wipes, such as eco-friendly and reusable cloth wipes.

If you have any queries or concerns about your home’s water system, please contact our Customer Service Team on 0300 365 3100 or via email at direct@habnteg.org.uk.