Paul Millard, Technical manager at WRAS, highlights three key plumbing material issues which he says should be considered and addressed within Water Safety Plans to maintain the water supply in hospitals and other healthcare facilities in safe and hygienic condition.
The development, construction, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of hot and cold water supply systems is vital for public health. Healthcare premises are dependent upon water to maintain hygiene and a comfortable environment for patients and staff, and for treatment and diagnostic purposes. The safe use of water is an important issue for healthcare premises, where potential contamination could have a greater impact on vulnerable people. Patients are more likely to have weakened immune systems, putting them at a particular disadvantage when exposed to any contamination of the water supply.
The Department of Health & Social Care has long recognised the importance of safe water in healthcare premises, and provides key guidance through its Health Technical Memorandum, HTM 04-01. One of the recommendations is the establishment of a Water Safety Group – a multidisciplinary group, one of whose key responsibilities is to undertake the commissioning and management of Water Safety Plans
Three key issues
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