Water cooling systems & warm water systems

Regulated systems are cooling water systems and warm water systems.

The Public Health Act 2010 sets out parameters in governing regulated systems in order to safely manage and prevent the growth and transmission of Legionella bacteria.  Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaire’s disease and can be a life-threatening condition.

Legionnaire's disease is an infection of the lungs caused by breathing in Legionella bacteria. Whilst Legionella bacteria is naturally present at low levels in the environment they have the ability to grow rapidly to dangerous levels in poorly managed cooling towers (used to cool large buildings) and warm water systems (used to provide instantaneous warm water).

Registration of Cooling Water Systems and Warm Water Systems

It is a legal requirement for all occupiers of buildings where a cooling water system or warm water system (regulated system) is installed to notify Waverley Council under Section 31 Public Health Act 2010.

Registration must also include any changes to the system when any of the following occurs:

  • a new system is installed on a premises
  • there is a change of owner or occupier for a building on which a system is located
  • the system is modified (for example, cooling towers added or removed)
  • the contact details for the building manager changes
  • the system is decommissioned.

To register or update information regarding your regulated system please complete our New changes to legislation.

As of 10 August 2018, building occupiers are responsible for these 6 keys features listed in the Public Health Amendment (legionella Control) Regulation 2018

No.
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 >1000cfu/mL or heterotrophic colony count >5,000,000 cfu/mL) to the local government authority. Report to be submitted to Georges River Council no later than 24 hours after receipt by the occupier
6 Display unique identification numbers on all cooling towers.

Reporting

Public Health Regulation 2012 approved forms to be used for

For further information visit NSW Health

Contacting the Environmental Health Team

For further information regarding any of the information contained within this section, please contact Council's Environmental Health Team on 9083 8055 or send an email to Simone.brennan@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Costings

  • Regulated system audit/administration – cooling tower/warm water system $363
  • Cooling Tower – Notification Fee $120