Frugality because of skyrocketing energy prices can be dangerous. Dresden, for example, warns of legionella in drinking water if the temperature is reduced too much to save energy. Are the fears justified?
Dresden (dpa / sn) - Legionella are still rare in the drinking water of the large Saxon cities, despite energy savings. There has been no significant increase in Legionella infections, said a spokeswoman for the city of Dresden in a survey by the German Press Agency. However, the temptation to save money by lowering the temperature of drinking water is great and understandable. The residents must therefore be made aware of the dangers. The city had recently expressly warned of legionella caused by low water temperatures.
According to the spokeswoman, six diseases caused by legionella have been detected in Dresden so far this year. In 2021 there were five. Another infection was only reported to the health department at the beginning of the week. In this case, however, there is still no knowledge as to whether a disease has broken out, it said. So far, no special precautions have been necessary. The illnesses were roughly at the level of previous years.
Regular legionella checks have been required by law for large-scale systems for heating drinking water since 2012. Commercially used properties such as apartment buildings with more than two residential units must be inspected every three years, public facilities such as daycare centers, schools and hospitals annually. For water that leaves the drinking water heater, a temperature of 60 degrees is required. In pipes with circulating water, the temperature must not fall below 55 degrees in order not to risk legionella infestation.
According to the city, 17 cases were reported in the week from November 14 to November 18 in which these values deviated from, about the same number of cases as in the previous year, it said in Dresden. In 2021 there were around 15 reports in the same period. Nine employees of the health department would use samples to check whether the legal requirements were being complied with.
Legionella are usually transmitted through atomized, misted water, for example when showering, in whirlpools or through air humidifiers. They can cause two different diseases: The so-called Legionnaires' disease or Legionella pneumonia, a form of pneumonia that is manifested by coughing, chills, headaches and high fever. The other illness is Pontiac fever with flu-like symptoms such as fever, malaise, headache and body aches. People with a weakened immune system, the elderly or smokers are particularly at risk. The Robert Koch Institute estimates that between 18 and 36 infections occur per 100,000 inhabitants in Germany every year.
According to a city spokeswoman, the Chemnitz health department often finds that not all technical regulations for preventing legionella are observed. This has happened 99 times so far this year. In such cases, however, the affected companies or other owners would usually quickly remedy the situation and warn the tenants of the affected houses with a notice. The health department checks whether the measures have actually been carried out, said a city spokeswoman.
In Leipzig, too, 14 cases of Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella have become known this year. The city was prepared, they said. The office for building management and the health department are in close contact, it said.
