The new Legionella Control Regulations have confirmed significant changes to the regulation of cooling tower systems in NSW:
- A compulsory Risk Management Plan (RMP) for every system, completed by a competent person
- A “Form 3” summary report to be developed on a monthly basis on the NSW Health “Approved Form”, summarising the results for the previous month and attaching all service and microbiological reports
- New physical and water chemistry tests to be conducted on a monthly basis including; temperature of the return line, corrosion rate assessment and comments on changes to the local environment
- Every Cooling Tower System is to be registered annually
- The Unique Identification Number (as provided by your Local Government body) to be displayed on each Cooling Tower – the size and materials for construction of the sign are regulated
- An annual independent Audit conducted and certified by a third party
- Within 4 hours of request by an authorised officer, you must be able to provide all documentation and contact details of every person who has worked on the system in the previous five years.
- Mandatory monthly sampling for Legionella and Heterotrophic bacteria in cooling tower systems (already a requirement from 1 January 2018)
- Mandatory reporting of elevated results for Legionella count ≥ 1000 and HCC ≥ 5,000,000 to your local government authority (already a requirement from 1 January 2018)
The changes to the management of cooling tower systems in NSW is significant. Our aim is to implement these changes without impacting your business.
Key Dates
1 January 2018 (already implemented)
- Monthly sampling and testing for Legionella and heterotrophic colony count
- Notification of reportable test results to Local Council
10 August 2018
- New “Approved Form 3” monthly summary report
- New control strategies for Legionella detections and high HCC results
- Registration with local government authority
- Within 4 hours of request by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO), you must provide 5 years’ history of maintenance and operational documentation
- Risk assessment is required before any newly installed system begins operation
Within 30 days’ notice by Local Council
- You must display your unique identification number on your cooling tower system within 30 days of the council providing the associated number
Before 30 November 2018 - Risk Management Plans for high risk locations
- Your local government authority will let you know if you are high, medium or low risk
Before 1 July 2019
- Risk Management Plan (RMP) for low risk and medium risk locations
- A RMP certificate of completion is required to be provided to your local government authority within 7 days of completing a risk assessment
- Your local government authority will let you know if you are high, medium or low risk
Find out more
What do you need to do?
How do I complete a Risk Management Plan?
Contact Us
If you have any further queries about the new Legionella Control Regulations, please contact our Legionella Control Regulations Lead:
Tamsin Woods
Legionella Control Regulations Lead
Direct line 02 9773 0192
Email [email protected]
