by Megan Schifer, Senior Director of Operations & Pierce Cable , Product Manager of Water Management Technology
This month, we had the opportunity to host the last webinar in our Beyond Legionellosis series, focusing on how biofilms in the built environment can be treated and controlled. Biofilms are complex structures that continually challenge best practices. These challenges can be addressed through monitoring, prevention, and a layered multi-barrier approach that is anchored by standards and water management programs. The goal of these best practices is to keep patients safe from the pathogens that thrive in biofilm.
We’d like to share some notable discussion pieces from our presentation to emphasize that point and encourage folks to view the full webinar.
Some practical considerations on the impact of biofilm and where teams may expect to find it.
Biofilm shelters opportunistic pathogens, giving them a safe place to amplify and spread downstream through plumbing systems. This is especially true for the large and complex water systems that are commonplace within hospitals and other healthcare facilities. These challenges span virtually all water systems, from drinking water to HVAC processes, and to critical water used in sterile processing departments. As such, it is important to have monitoring throughout a facility, targeted include but not limited to critical control locations and points-of-use where patient exposure is high risk.
Next, let’s talk about some practical considerations for hazard control monitoring strategies.
Monitoring can be divided into two strategies: Manual and Automated. Each type has its advantages and shortcomings. As such, every team should assess what they need and potentially apply a hybrid approach to get the most value from their strategy.
Manual Monitoring
- Simple way to check water system performance.
- Handheld tools work well for spot checks and troubleshooting.
- Results can vary depending on staff availability or sampling timing.
- Harder to see overall system trends.
Automated Monitoring
- Provides a more consistent, complete view.
- Online sensors collect data continuously.
- Helps teams detect issues earlier, reduce manual effort, and make proactive, data-driven decisions.
Let’s go over what the Industry Standards say about how to manage biofilm, specifically related to water temperature control.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 514 provides clear, evidence-based recommendations for managing biofilm and preventing scalding. Maintaining proper temperature control serves as an effective barrier to limit biofilm growth.
Hot water at taps is generally limited to 120° F to control scald risk, while temperatures closer to 110° F should be considered when the system serves vulnerable individuals.
Cold water should consistently remain below 77° F. Insulating cold water plumbing and routing it away from heat sources helps to prevent unnecessary warming.
At its core, the principle is simple: keep hot water hot and cold water cold. When properly implemented, this thermal barrier provides a natural and low-effort method for controlling biofilm growth.
“Is the hazard/hazards being consistently controlled? — This question is typically at the heart of why supplemental disinfection is installed in the first place. And now with ASHRAE 514’s expanded waterborne pathogen scope, this question will likely become even more important in the coming years.” – Pierce Cable
What was our key takeaway?
Biofilms are unavoidable, making proactive management through a comprehensive Water Management Program essential, with prevention and thoughtful system design serving as the most effective way to protect health and avoid costly remediation.
For a full viewing of the content, you can register to watch this and previous webinar recordings at https://phigenics.com/resources/.
