A good system is to assess the plant for any dead legs, because they are a source for the growth of microbial slimes and Legionella, then get them removed or looped so that circulation takes place. One site, who said they had no dead-legs had 17 of them. The second main source is building debris and or sediment getting into the cooling system. Materials such as china clay dust, coffee grounds and fibres all of which protect bacteria from the biocides in use. The use of bio-dispersant as part of a program on a weekly basis helps prevent the build up of slimes. I noted that one of the materials in use was glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde is volatile so some is lost from the system by evaporation. It is also mutagenic at low levels and can promote resistant strains from developing. The choice of non-oxidising biocide and its alternation, even in the presence of bromine, along with the intermittent dosing of biodispersant can prevent and clean up fouled systems in high risk systems. The use of the stainless steel mesh for monitoring is another tool used to monitor the system but will not prevent Legionella or microbial slimes.
Published by Don Sharpe
A good system is to assess the plant for any dead legs, because they are a source for the growth of microbial slimes and Legionella, then get them removed or looped so that circulation takes place. One site, who said they had no dead-legs had 17 of them. The second main source is building debris and or sediment getting into the cooling system. Materials such as china clay dust, coffee grounds and fibres all of which protect bacteria from the biocides in use. The use of bio-dispersant as part of a program on a weekly basis helps prevent the build up of slimes. I noted that one of the materials in use was glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde is volatile so some is lost from the system by evaporation. It is also mutagenic at low levels and can promote resistant strains from developing. The choice of non-oxidising biocide and its alternation, even in the presence of bromine, along with the intermittent dosing of biodispersant can prevent and clean up fouled systems in high risk systems. The use of the stainless steel mesh for monitoring is another tool used to monitor the system but will not prevent Legionella or microbial slimes.