Clients - Local Authority
Integrated Water Services are a leading supplier of water hygiene and water facilities maintenance and services to many local authorities and social landlords across the country.
IWS currently carry out in excess of 500 Legionella risk assessments and 5,000 monthly water hygiene maintenance visits each month for the combined local authority and social housing customer base.
IWS can only cost effectively manage this level of service delivery due to the investment in the IWS Online Report Tracker system.
The quality of service is ensured by the provision of services at local level utilising a local work force managed from local service centres.
IWS understand the pressures of operating complex multi building organisations and have tailored the service to local authorities and social housing landlords to help minimise the management time required to ensure compliance. By using the ORT system data can be filtered to “report by exception” and highlight those test results and inspections that require action.
IWS are used to operating in a local authority environment and aim to employ local labour matching the diversity of the authority in which we work. All IWS operatives are CRB checked to the enhanced level.
From small housing associations to the largest of Local Authorities, IWS provide cost effective water hygiene and legionella monitoring and inspection maintenance services.
Across the range of authorities and social landlords for which we work IWS provide the following services:
the IWS risk assessment is provided in hard copy and via the client login for Online Report tracker – The IWS Legionella risk assessment will highlight areas of compliance and non-compliance with current standards and will detail one off remedial works and routine maintenance to reduce risk and ensure compliance.
Local authorities and social landlords will have clients such as the elderly and infirm that fall into a high risk category in terms of susceptibility to legionellosis. Special care is needed to ensure that the risk of legionellosis is minimised where susceptible people are present. IWS have significant experience in working in properties that house susceptible people.
It is the responsibility of the Authority or Social landlord to ensure that their staff understand the Legionella hazard and how to effectively manage the risk of Legionellosis
IWS will work with a local authority to establish a suitable training programme.
The routine maintenance including tanks and calorifier inspection, temperature monitoring and shower head cleaning and disinfection in local authority buildings is not in itself complex; the issue for most local authorities and social landlords is the number of buildings that require service and the amount of remedial actions and results that are generated. IWS have designed systems that make the most productive use of the data collected and minimise managerial input for the client by reporting on exception.
IWS undertake remedial upgrade work ranging from tank removal and conversion to mains feed, tank replacement, tank lining and upgrade, water heater replacement, deadleg removal and pipework lagging etc. Where required IWS offer a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection service designed to reduce disruption and water wastage in local authority buildings.
Because IWS understand the pressures on Local Authorities and Social Landlords to provide a continuous service to their clients, IWS have developed novel disinfection techniques to minimise downtime and maintain water supply to buildings that are in use 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
By utilising IWS WaterSafe disinfectant systems can be disinfected whilst still in use and the disinfectant can be left in the system to decay over a period of time this means that the system is off line for short periods during the disinfection process and at least one tank drain and refill is avoided thus saving both time and water.
Where temperature control is used as the primary Legionella control measure a scalding risk can be created in buildings that house susceptible people. IWS are experienced in the installation and routine fail safe testing and servicing of thermostatically controlled mixing valves.
Ineffective control and treatment of water features can create a legionella risk in built up areas within towns and cities.
Water features should be included in the local authority risk assessment programme. Risk assessment of water features can be provided by IWS.
By combining the skills within the IWS water hygiene and mechanical and electrical departments, IWS provide a complete water feature maintenance package.
This can include replacement or upgrade of control panels and pumping plant, service and breakdown, water treatment chemical supply and routine cleaning and disinfection.
For those features that are used as bird baths or draw the attention of student pranks a remedial cleaning and disinfection service is available.
For clients operating high rise buildings IWS can supply packaged booster pump and tank installations
HSE Guide: Legionnaires' disease - Essential information for providers of residential accommodation
Teachernet: BB87: Guidelines for Environmental Design in Schools [See: Section 5: Hot and cold water supplies]
HSE Guide: Controlling Legionella in nursing and residential care homes
