Legionella bacteria can spread in man-made hot and cold water systems if the water temperature allows this to happen. The prime temperature for the bacteria to proliferate at is between 20 – 45 degrees Celsius (68-113 F).
Regarding this, at what temperature does legionella bacteria grow rapidly?
The bacteria have been found in water systems ranging in temperature from 6°C to 60°C, although they will grow best between 20°C and 45°C. Legionella bacteria will rapidly be killed at temperatures above 60°C, and do not multiply at temperatures above 50°C.
Correspondingly, can you get Legionnaires disease from tap water?
You can get Legionnaires’ disease from things like:
taps and showers that are not used often.
How long does it take for Legionella bacteria to grow in water?
Legionella Facts and FAQ 4 – Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal, bacterial pneumonia infection that is contracted by breathing in water droplets with an incubation period of 2-10 days with an average onset of 3-6 days.
What happens to Legionella at water temperatures below 20 C?
Legionella needs a certain set of conditions to be able to survive. It needs to live in a temperature range of between 20 and 50˚C, above 50˚C it will start to die off. Heat will kill legionella bacteria, cold will not. If you have water below 20˚C it will go into hibernation, it will not die.
What temp kills Legionnaires?
How do you kill legionella? Once hot water temperatures reach 50 degrees, the Legionella bacteria will begin to die off. The speed at which this occurs depends on how high the temperature goes, the hotter the temperature the more effective the kill rate.
What temperature is mains water?
Mains water is distributed across London through a network of pipes, and varies in temperature between 5 and 20°C during the year.
What temperature kills Legionella instantly?
What temperature kills Legionella bacteria? To kill the bacteria, the water temperature needs to be above 50°C – as at this temperature the bacteria will begin to die off. To ensure a rapid and certain demise, the temperature needs to be above 60°C.