Erfurt (dpa/th) - The health authorities in Thuringia have not yet identified any problems with legionella due to a possible drop in water temperatures in view of energy prices. This emerges from a random survey by the German Press Agency. Accordingly, no trend towards increased legionella in connection with possible reductions in hot water can be identified. However, all the health authorities surveyed warn against illegally lowering the hot water temperature to below 60 degrees. At a temperature below 60 degrees there is "the risk of contamination", as the spokeswoman for the Jena city administration, Stefanie Braune, announced. Legionella are killed from a temperature of 60 degrees, confirms an employee of the health department in the Wartburg district.
According to Braune, a comprehensive and up-to-date statement about the current situation cannot be made, as public institutions carry out an examination for legionella once a year. For private landlords, a legionella test is required at least every three years. In addition, tenants who draw their water from large systems have a legal right to a minimum temperature that must not be fallen below.
The Thuringian housing associations are also aware of the dangers of too high a concentration of legionella. According to the Thuringian Housing and Real Estate Association e.V., there is no cooperative that has lowered the temperature of hot water for its tenants in view of the energy prices, as a spokeswoman said. No large housing company or cooperative can afford legionella in high concentrations, the spokeswoman said. According to their own statements, the housing companies in the association manage around 264,000 apartments.
Legionella are bacteria that can cause pneumonia and flu-like symptoms if the concentration is too high. People with previous illnesses or a weakened immune system are particularly at risk. In small numbers, legionella are a natural component of groundwater.
