We are pleased to announce that our company Lucion Services Ltd has successfully recertified as a member of the Legionella Control Association (LCA).
Following a rigorous assessment, our specialist Legionella testing and consultancy team continues to deliver LCA-certified services including Legionella testing, management and training.
Kieran Irving, Legionella and Water Treatment Manager at Lucion, who leads our legionella team, provides unique insight into the risks of legionella and why using a certified service provider remains essential to protecting people and planet.
How prevalent is Legionella in the UK?
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals that 472 cases of legionellosis were reported in 2024, representing a 22.0% decrease compared with 2023.
However, experts widely accept that many cases still go unaccounted for. Just over half of Legionella exposures in 2024 were acquired in the community (51.6%), whilst 43.8% were associated with travel outside the UK, and 4.5% were linked to healthcare facilities.
What is Legionella?
There are over 60 different known species of Legionella bacteria – although Legionella pneumophila causes around 90% of all infections. One type of Legionella infection is Pontiac Fever, a respiratory disease with a short incubation period of 1-3 days and, usually, non-fatal but with symptoms similar to acute flu. Full-blown Legionnaires’ disease, which includes pneumonia, is incubated between 2 and 10 days and can be fatal in 10 to 15% of cases, with much greater risk for the elderly and people with a poor immune system.
How is Legionella Transmitted?
“Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria found in water systems, but it becomes dangerous when it multiplies in conditions typically found in building water systems,” explains Kieran Irving.
” When water is transmitted into aerosol form, water droplets containing the bacteria are inhaled, they can develop Legionnaires’ disease – a serious form of pneumonia that can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable individuals.”
Water droplets containing the legionella bacteria have to be transmitted into aerosol form and inhaled into the lungs. Water temperatures between 20°C and 45°C or systems with stored and/or recirculation designs can influence bacterial growth. Legionella can also lie dormant in otherwise ‘safe’ water systems for several years, as it protects itself in other matter available in the water system biofilm.
Legionella species are found in natural resources such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs and more commonly man made water systems. However, many unsuspecting people have contracted Legionella-related illness from such things as showers that have been unused for several days/weeks, poorly treated recreational water such as whirlpools and Jacuzzis, and spray from decorative fountains or water features.
Legionella Regulations For Duty Holders and Employers
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, it is the responsibility of the duty holder/employer to ensure a safe working environment. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 implements a broad framework for health and safety and includes risk assessments to be undertaken. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) is the law that applies to employers in regard to controlling substances hazardous to health. This applies to not only chemicals but biological agents such as legionnaires disease as per The Approved List of biological agents – HSE.
Under the above regulations, a risk assessment should be carried out by a competent person to ensure risks in the working environment are prevented, reduced, controlled and where possible, eliminated.
According to the HSE, a competent person should regularly check and clean all water systems in accordance with a legionella risk assessment.
“Prevention is about understanding and controlling the conditions that allow Legionella to thrive,” Irving explains. “With proper management and regular attention, the risks associated with Legionella can be effectively controlled.”
Utilising a trusted provider certified by the Legionella Control Association (LCA) is essential to ensure that your risks are effectively managed and people and the environment are protected.
About the Legionella Control Association
Founded in 1999 by the British Association for Chemical Specialities (BACS) and the Water Management Society (WMSoc), the LCA is a voluntary organisation whose membership comprises providers of services and products concerned with the control of legionella bacteria in water systems.
The LCA aims to keep water systems safe and minimise the risk of cases of Legionnaires’ disease caused by poorly maintained systems.
To help members demonstrate themselves as trusted providers to clients, the LCA developed a Code of Conduct, defining 9 key requirements companies must comply with, as well as producing a statement of compliance which explains how the organisation complies. Companies also need to comply with specific Service Standards for those legionella control services that it is registered for. The LCA then audits the company against the Code and the service standards annually.
All members of the LCA, including Lucion Services Ltd, are required to register which specific areas of activity associated with controlling legionella they are involved in, and additionally undergo a yearly site audit. Under our LCA certification, Lucion Services is certified to deliver:
- Legionella Risk Assessments
- Legionella Sampling & Interpretation
- Legionella Training
- Legionella Consultancy..
- Legionella Monitoring & Systems Disinfection
Our certified team provide a suitable and sufficient legionella risk assessment in accordance with the following legionella guidance documents:
- Approved Code Of Practice L8 (2013)
- Health and Safety Guidance 274 Part 1 – 3 (2024)
- Health Technical Memorandum 04-01 Part A and D 2016
- British Standard 8580-1:2019. Water Quality – Risk Assessments For Legionella Control
As an LCA member, our legionella team at Lucion Services delivers comprehensive water safety solutions across all sectors – from education and retail to industrial and commercial facilities.
We ensure you receive expert guidance and practical, implementable solutions to manage legionella risks effectively within your buildings and assets.
