Legionella Contamination in Viennese Public Housing: How Dangerous are the Bacteria and What Solutions Does Ecoturbino Offer?
First off, regarding the topic: ecoturbino offers an excellent and unique preventative approach through its drainage function of the shower hose – certified with a medical hygiene report from the Medical University of Vienna. However, this is only effective if the Legionella bacteria do NOT originate from the building itself.
The Legionella problem in showers, particularly evident in an apartment managed by ‘Wiener Wohnen,’ has recently garnered increased public attention in the media.
- https://www.heute.at/s/wiener-trinkt-im-gemeindebau-wasser-intensivstation-120028843
- https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000214278/legionellenbefall-in-wien-wie-gefaehrlich-sind-die-bakterien
- https://www.focus.de/panorama/welt/unsichtbare-bedrohung-mann-58-liegt-im-koma-weil-er-in-wien-leitungswasser-getrunken-hat_id_259818791.html
According to Focus.de, the daughter of the man described the dramatic situation of her family to ‘Heute.at.’ She said, ‘He was only gasping for air and couldn’t breathe anymore.’ The man had been diagnosed with severe pneumonia – Legionnaires’ disease, caused by Legionella. These highly aggressive bacteria can accumulate in water pipes and are subject to mandatory reporting.
The existence of Legionella in hot water systems and showers does indeed pose a serious health risk that should not be underestimated. But how dangerous are these bacteria really, and what solutions are available to minimize the risk for residents?
Austria is a pioneer in this regard and has defined an Austrian standard (ÖNORM) on this topic.
Some of the contents include: Avoiding stagnant water in the system, Microbiological requirements for water quality and its monitoring in hot water systems
- This standard sets hygienic requirements for operation, monitoring, and remediation, with a focus on achieving and maintaining water quality in hot water systems, etc.
- Hygiene-relevant planning, execution, operation, monitoring, and remediation of central hot water systems
- This standard describes measures to prevent Legionella growth and to prevent infections from heated drinking water. It outlines hygiene-relevant measures, etc.
It describes the hygiene-relevant points in the planning, execution, operation, monitoring, and remediation of central hot water heating and distribution systems.
The provisions in this standard apply especially to hospitals, health resorts, care facilities, bathing facilities, accommodation establishments, community facilities, public buildings, and residential complexes.
In this article, we will delve deeply into the Legionella problem, shed light on the potential health risks, and specifically examine ecoturbino’s solutions for preventing the formation of Legionella in showers.
The Threat of Legionella: How Dangerous are the Bacteria for our Health?
Legionella are gram-negative bacteria that occur naturally in water sources and proliferate especially in warm water.
In showers, they can colonize in the pipes and hot water tanks and be inhaled through showering in the form of aerosols (when the water jet exits the shower head).
The consequences of a Legionella infection can be serious, ranging from flu-like symptoms to severe pneumonia, such as Legionnaires’ disease.
Good educational video on the subject of legionella
Particularly vulnerable are individuals with weakened immune systems, older adults, and those with certain pre-existing conditions. Therefore, it is crucial that measures are taken to control Legionella growth and minimize the risk of Legionella infections.
Legionella Contamination in Vienna: The Recent Case at “Wiener Wohnen”
A case of Legionella contamination was recently identified in an apartment managed by “Wiener Wohnen,” leading to concern and questions regarding the safety of the residents.
This highlights the urgency of the issue and the need for measures to mitigate risks. Residents are concerned about the potential health risks and are calling for appropriate solutions from the responsible authorities.
ecoturbino Shower Adapter: An Innovative Solution for Preventing Legionella Formation in the Shower Hose and Shower Head
An promising solution for preventing Legionella formation in showers is the ecoturbino system. ecoturbino is an innovative product from Austria that is installed in front of shower heads or on the shower hose and helps prevent the onset of Legionella growth.
After the shower process is completed, the ecoturbino switches to reverse mode, and the water in the shower head and hose is drained through the ecoturbino.
By using ecoturbino, residents of apartments in places like “Wiener Wohnen” and other residential complexes can significantly reduce the risk of Legionella infections, provided they do not originate from the hot water system.
How does the ecoturbino shower system work?
The ecoturbino operates by strategically incorporating air suctioned from the side through an air hole into the shower water stream.
This helps reduce the amount of water by approximately 40-50% (saving significant amounts of water and energy) and compensates for this water loss with air bubbles.
As a result, the shower stream that comes into contact with the skin remains consistent, avoiding the negative sensation experienced with some water-saving shower heads.
The fascination of shower head drainage for optimal hygiene in the shower
After the shower process is completed, the remaining water in the shower head and hose is drained through this air hole. One could say that the ecoturbino “urinates” – which is clearly visible.
This helps minimize the conditions conducive to Legionella growth and thus contributes to reducing the risk of Legionella infections to almost zero.
Furthermore, the ecoturbino adapter is cost-effective, easy to install, and does not require extensive modifications or changes to the existing shower system.
Additional benefits of ecoturbino | 7 in 1 principle
- The investment in a worry-free deluxe shower set (ecoturbino adapter, shower hose, and shower head) is minimal.
- After just a few months of using ecoturbino showers, the investment is recovered through water and energy savings, putting you in the profit zone for a lifetime.
- So, one could say, the only foolish thing to do is not to invest in an ecoturbino set.
- No maintenance costs: ecoturbino requires no maintenance, providing a cost-effective solution for Legionella prevention in the hose and shower head.
ecoturbino Conclusion
- The Legionella problem in showers, particularly in the recent case example of “Wiener Wohnen,” is a serious health risk that should not be underestimated.
- It is crucial that appropriate measures are taken to control Legionella growth and minimize the risk of Legionella infections.
- Solutions like the ecoturbino system offer a promising way to prevent Legionella growth in showers (provided that the hot water system is in order) and protect the health of residents.
- Through a combination of education, preventive measures, and innovative solutions, we can contribute to minimizing the risks of Legionella infections and improving safety in our homes.
Our ecoturbino carefree sets in the online shop
Additional interesting links on the topic
- https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000188904/nach-legionellen-todesfall-patientin-nicht-im-akh-infiziert
- https://www.rtl.de/cms/legionellen-alarm-in-unserem-wasser-immer-mehr-todesfaelle-und-die-ursache-ist-unklar-4811279.html
- https://www.salzburg24.at/news/salzburg/stadt/legionellen-alarm-in-salzburger-regierungsbueros-132844066
- https://www.bild.de/regional/stuttgart/stuttgart-aktuell/legionellen-alarm-in-stuttgart-ich-darf-seit-juli-nicht-duschen-85639828.bild.html