Even cold water does not escape bacteria

Although we know that legionella mainly develops in warm water between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius, cold water systems are not immune to bacterial growth. After all, pathogenic bacteria can also develop in cold water.

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management warns of the dangers of temperature rise above 25 degrees Celsius and water stagnation in cold water pipes. For example, regarding the development of legionella. "Nowadays, there is also attention to other factors that can make cold water warmer," explains Céline Caille, product manager for Care at DELABIE. "For example, in technical rooms, where cold and hot water pipes run side by side. A lack of ventilation in these technical rooms can cause the temperature of the cold water to rise to even 30 degrees Celsius. There is also the problem of dead ends in which stagnant water can form. Drains that are little or not used can also cause stagnant water. By the way, healthcare facilities are always responsible for cases of legionella."

To control the risk of bacterial growth in cold water pipes, DELABIE recommends acting on two levels: water temperature and water stagnation. Regarding temperature, DELABIE stresses the importance of insulating cold and hot water pipes and keeping technical rooms cool so that the ambient temperature does not raise the temperature of the cold water. After all, if the temperature is favorable and water stagnation occurs, bacterial growth is promoted. "To avoid the impact of water stagnation at a tapping point that is little or not used, DELABIE recommends choosing electronic rather than mechanical faucets," Caille said. "For toilets, we have developed a direct flushing system without a reservoir. Moreover, this solution comes with a technology that activates a hygienic flush every 24 hours after the last use." Several electronic faucets for sinks, toilets and showers developed by DELABIE are equipped with this automatic flushing function. 

As a manufacturer, DELABIE is committed to offering products that meet both regulations and customer expectations.