New requirements for managing NSW cooling water systems

Last week new legislation was enacted for cooling waters systems in NSW.

NSW Health has introduced a number of safeguards to ensure systems are managed according to its risk of Legionella contamination.

From 10 August 2018, building occupiers are required to ensure that there are six key safeguards in place for their cooling water systems:

1. Risk assessment of Legionella contamination, documented in a Risk Management Plan (RMP) – every five years (or more frequently if required)

2. Independent auditing of compliance with the RMP and Regulation – every year

3. Providing certificates of RMP completion and audit completion to the local government authority

4. Sampling and testing for Legionella and heterotrophic colony count – every month

5. Notifying reportable laboratory test results (Legionella count ≥1000 cfu/mL or heterotrophic colony count ≥5,000,000 cfu/mL) to the local government authority

6. Displaying unique identification numbers on all cooling towers.

The requirements for building occupiers to test for Legionella bacteria on a monthly basis and notify high ‘reportable test results’ to the local government authority commenced earlier this year on 1 January 2018.

Visit NSW Heath to learn more about at the regulations.

At Airmaster our specialist water treatment team has the skills and capabilities to ensure testing of your cooling towers adheres to regulation standard.

For more information, contact your Account Manager or email watertreatment@airmaster.com.au.