Invisible danger lurks in many domestic bathrooms. Legionella, rod-shaped bacteria colonise in hot water pipes of large houses. The long tubes, in which some water is left, provide ideal breeding grounds. With temperatures around 50 degrees, the bacteria multiply rapidly. In the steam hundreds of bacteria’s can romp around and cause dangerous diseases by inhaling, e.g. diseases with flu-like symptoms to fatal lung infections.
With the change of the “TrinkwV 2001” (German Drinking Water regulation) in 2011, owners of large houses are now obliged to carry out analysis of the water pipes every three years. The regulations state that owners of a central water storage of more than 400 litres must check the water for bacterial contamination. If they don’t and people contract illness from it, owners will be ordered to pay a significant fine.
Hahnemühle FineArt offers a variety of products for Legionella testing. For the detection of lower amounts of bacteria, sterile membranes made from mixed esters or cellulose nitrate are perfectly suited. At a high sample frequency, sterile monitors should be used, they have an integrated membrane and can be attached easily to filtration manifolds. The integrated Petri dish can be used directly for cultivation. This saves time! If Legionella have to be enriched from a high dilution, Hahnemühle recommends PC membranes, as the organisms can be removed easily due to the smooth surface.
The two page flyer “Membrane filtration of water – Legionella” offers all information on our products.
We would be happy to send you a printed copy; you can also download the flyer at the download centre.
