Advantage Water Engineering offers a variety of services to aid clients in the monitoring, control, and remediation of water-borne pathogens in water systems, especially Legionella. With the implementation of ASHRAE Standard 188P, the requirements for owners and managers of public buildings are more stringent than ever — and we can help navigate these requirements for the greatest safety of tenants, patients, and visitors to your facility.

Site Surveys
The first step to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria is to understand the layout and normal operation of the water distribution systems where they can proliferate. Temperatures, flows, cross-connections, and types of fixtures all have a significant impact on the presence of Legionella. We perform a site survey to identify any potential problem areas and list steps the facility can take to minimize the risk of a Legionella problem.

Environmental Monitoring
We also perform, through a nationally accredited third-party laboratory, sampling for the presence of currently known water-borne pathogens — including Legionella. This includes water and swab samples. Results are expressed in colony forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml) along with sero-group typing.

Remediation
While prevention is the goal, positive Legionella test results or worse, an illness due to Legionella, require immediate action. We have experience in disinfection of water systems and are licensed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). We can take the lead in evaluating and implementing the best method for the system. These methods include copper/silver ionization, hyper-chlorination, thermal ‘shock’, and chlorine dioxide.

HACCP
ASHRAE Standard 188P requires building owners and managers to develop an HACCP (Hazard Assessment Critical Control Point) plan and a team to implement and monitor that plan. We consult with clients through participation on their HACCP Team to help develop the required plan and assure its proper implementation.