With warmer weather finally here and backyard entertaining season just around the corner, a leading Legionella testing expert is reminding American consumers to take important safety steps before firing up their hot tubs this spring.
In recent years, hot tubs have grown increasingly popular in the U.S., with it estimated that 7.3million households own one, while hot tub rental services are also on the rise.
However, with spring upon us, Hydrohawk, the U.S.’s leading Legionella testing brand, is cautioning people to take care when preparing their hot tubs and to be aware of the associated health risks.
Greg Rankin, CEO at Hydrohawk said: “Most of the time people buy or hire hot tubs without realizing the dangers that are associated with them.
“Hot tubs are typically maintained at high temperatures, which can create ideal conditions for bacteria to grow, while the jets and bubbling water can create aerosols that carry bacteria into the air.
“Inadequate water quality management can put hot tub users at risk of illness, including Legionnaires’ disease, which in severe cases can be potentially fatal.
“With this, it’s incredibly important that hot-tub users take extra care to familiarize themselves with the safety instructions for healthy and safe use. As part of this, we would strongly recommend periodically testing the water for Legionella, particularly if the hot tub hasn’t been used for some time.”
Hot tubs operate in the temperature range that supports Legionella growth – roughly 77-113°F (25–45°C). Combined with the production of aerosols and variable disinfection levels, this can increase the risk of Legionella if proper precautions are not taken. That, and the scope for aerosol production and variable disinfection levels, can exacerbate the risk of Legionella if not properly managed.
Returning a hot tub to use after any extended period, whether it has been sitting full or has been drained, is a particularly critical safety moment. Stagnant water or moisture remaining in the plumbing, jets and filters can allow disinfectant levels to drop and biofilm to develop, creating conditions in which Legionella bacteria can thrive. It is therefore vital to carry out a thorough clean, drain, flush and disinfection of the entire system before re-use.
Reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the U.S. have seen an approximate 1000% increase over the past two decades.2 As the U.S. experiences warmer average temperatures and more frequent weather extremes due to climate change, this risk is increasing.
About one out of every ten people who gets sick with Legionnaires’ disease will die due to complications from their illness.3 Legionnaires’ disease survivors experience impaired quality of life across seven of the eight dimensions assessed, with the majority also reporting persistent symptoms including fatigue, neurological symptoms and neuromuscular symptoms more than a year after diagnosis.
Greg adds: “While hot tubs provide comfort and enjoyment, the reality is that they also create significant opportunity for Legionella to grow. Add that to a rapidly increasing Legionella count in the United States and around the world, and it becomes even more important that America’s hot-tub users include Legionella testing as part of their spring setup measures. That way they can truly enjoy a relaxing spring soak with added peace of mind.”
Hydrohawk is now available to buy through Amazon. Alternatively, for more information please visit: https://h
