SMS Environmental | Water Treatment Services | Expert water treatment services to reduce equipment down time and repair

What is Legionnaires' disease and can I contract it?

Whether you're feeling apprehensive about your surroundings or are simply driven by a natural curiosity to learn more about this disease, we are here to assist you. Our goal is to equip you with the essential information you need to not only stay informed but also to take proactive steps toward ensuring your safety and well-being. In this section, we will delve into various aspects of the disease, from its transmission and symptoms to effective prevention strategies and resources for further learning.

Legionnaires' disease develops between 2-10 days (usually 6-7 days) with flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, fever, muscle pain, headache and coughing. Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever are the non-pneumonia versions.

Normally contracted by inhaling aerosols (small water droplets that evaporate very quickly) from a water source contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

Who is at most risk?

Men appear more susceptible than women;
Immuno-suppressed people;
People over the age of 50;
People suffering from diabetes;
Alcoholics, smokers; and
People suffering from heart, lung, liver and kidney disease.

If you suspect you have been in contact with Legionella and have breathing difficulties it is important to get medical attention as soon as possible as it can lead to severe pneumonia, and you may need to be on antibiotics for a few weeks. If it is left untreated it can be fatal.

SMS Environmental provide expert services to prevent an outbreak of legionnaires disease in both water and air systems.

CHLORINATION/DISINFECTION

Effective disinfection of water systems through chlorination.

Water systems require regular disinfection to eliminate potential health-threatening pathogenic organisms from both the water and associated pipework in order to prevent potential health risks to the water user.

We are fortunate enough to have an excellent mains water distribution system in the UK, but this can rapidly become contaminated if the domestic down services and cold-water storage tanks are poorly maintained. Chlorination is the addition of chlorine to the water supply at a predetermined strength to achieve effective disinfection.

SMS Environmental has the expertise to provide the best advice through our UKAS-accredited risk assessors and technical experts, as well as the ability to carry out the full spectrum of cleaning and disinfection works including chlorinating mains water, chlorinating down services and water tank chlorination in order to maintain high standards of water quality and hygiene.

Having achieved the training to meet all the British Standards, compliance with ACoP and HSE guidance, including WaterSafe accreditation, our teams will expertly undertake chlorination of the water services using customised dosing systems and processes.

We are experienced in the following:

BS 8558:2015, PD 855468:2015 Standards
Building chlorination
Chlorination certification
Chlorination drinking water
Chlorination processes
Chlorination training
Chlorination legislation
Hospital chlorination
Water treatment chlorination

Cooling Towers

Water cooling towers are reliant on proficient management programmes to ensure they continue to run effectively, are safe and compliant with HSE legislation.

Chemical Supplies

Water treatment and purification products to complement our water hygiene and monitoring services.

SMS Environmental supplies chemicals and disinfectants that are used in commercial cleaning, disinfection, environmental hygiene, industrial and process water treatment activities.

We provide high-performance water treatment and purification products suitable for steam boilers and cooling towers, and closed circuits to complement our water hygiene and monitoring services.

All chemistries are supplied with technical data sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), as well as continuous support and technical advice.

Working with our preferred supplier, the formulations cover a diverse range of uses, whether you are looking for oxidising biocides to attack micro-organisms or non-oxidising biocides for industrial use such as controlling Legionella species, TVC and algae to reverse osmosis chemicals designed to demineralise water and clear your membranes.

The formulations are tried and tested by us, spanning over a decade, and all chemicals are carefully packed, labelled and transported by ADR-qualified drivers from eight depots strategically located all over the UK.

Chemical formulations include:

Antifoams and defoamers
Oxidising and non-oxidising biocides and disinfectants
Boiler water chemicals
Chlorine dioxide solutions
Cleaning treatments
Closed system chemicals
Cooling water chemicals
Drinking water treatment
Industrial cleaning chemicals
Odour control solutions
Pack cleaning chemicals
Polymer treatments
Reverse osmosis chemicals
Solid chemical water treatment
Wastewater treatment chemicals

SPA & Swimming Pool Treatment

SMS Environmental calls on years of expertise to control the risks of infection and ensure compliance with BSI Code of Practice PAS 39:2003 and the PWTAG Code of Practice. Find out more our SPA and Swimming Pool Services