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Hospital & Healthcare Water Treatment

Hospital & Healthcare Water Treatment

It has been estimated that the annual cost of diseases caused by waterborne pathogens is over $500 million nationwide. Waterborne pathogens are inhabitants of drinking water that grow in drinking water and plumbing systems. These waterborne pathogens over time have adapted and have become disinfectant resistant. 

 

Legionella Pneumophila, is probably the most widely known waterborne pathogen.  It causes the life-threatening pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease.  There are also scores of other waterborne pathogens that cause severe infections and disease from pulmonary infection to nosocomial infections in patients with reduced immunity, to meningitis. All of these dreadful waterborne pathogens continue to morph and resist previous methods of water treatment and disinfection.

Waterborn Pathogen 1

 

The continued transformation and resistance of these common waterborne pathogens make individualized healthcare and hospital water treatment imperative.

 

Hospitals and healthcare buildings have 12 characteristics that make them vulnerable to waterborne pathogens.  What are those key characteristics that make hospitals and healthcare centers vulnerable to waterborne pathogens?

 

  1. 1) Susceptible Population
  2. 2) High-risk Patients
  3. 3) High Density of Patients in Closed Spaces
  4. 4) Dependent on Local Water Quality
  5. 5) Water Heated and Recirculated
  6. 6) Aerosol Generators
  7. 7) Unrestricted Air Flow
  8. 8) Variety of Pipe Surface Composition
  9. 9) Low Disinfectant Residual
  10. 10) Low Organic Carbon
  11. 11) Dead Ends, Unused Wings/Wards/Room
  12. 12) Stagnation and Water Age

 

The sources of waterborne pathogens in a hospital or healthcare setting are immense.  They include: 

Legionella Bacteria

  •  
  • 1) Shower heads
  • 2) Shower and Tap Aerosols
  • 3) Refrigerator Water and Ice
  • 4) Drains
  • 5) Humidifiers
  • 6) Granular Activated Carbon Filters
  • 7) Therapy Pools
  • 8) Fountains & Water Features

 

 

 

With so many susceptible characteristics and sources of waterborne pathogens, IWC Innovations engineers have become the nation’s most educated and sought out individuals to develop defensible healthcare and hospital water treatment programs.

 

If your hospital or healthcare facility is looking for a solution to waterborne pathogens and a water treatment solution to meet your individual requirements contact one of our engineers for help today!  Find out more about our Healthcare & Hospital water treatment services by contacting IWC today by calling 1-877-IWC-PLAN or visiting us online HERE

 

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Find out more about how IWC Innovations uses our patented remediation the HydroTreat Process to combat waterborne pathogens HERE.

 

Legionnaires’ Disease is the #1 Waterborne Disease in the U.S.

Legionnaires’ Disease is the #1 Waterborne Disease in the U.S.

Updated: Nov 16, 2018 Check out this insightful post from Erin Brockovich. We love how she refers to this disease as the "perfect storm."

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