FAQ
Water Management Plans & Programs
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Why do I need a water management program?The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as of June 2017 require LTC, CAH, and Hospitals to implement an ASHRAE188-2018 compliant water management program to reduce the risk of Legionella in their buildings.Comprehensive Water Management Programs are in alignment with The Joint Commission Standard Environment of Care (EC) 02.05.02 which was approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on January 7, 2021. It was issued March 19, 2021 and will go into effect January 1, 2022.
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What can I do to prevent Legionella?Developing a strong, customized Water Management Plan coupled with routine Legionella testing will greatly reduce the risk of Legionella.
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How long does it take to create a customized water management plan for my building?The Smart Plan App™ takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. The intuitive table of contents allows for easy navigation and minimal backtracking. The IWC team takes care of the rest, including custom flow diagrams and tailored control measures.
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Does your solution have Joint Commission & CMS approval?
Yes! The Joint Commission and the CMS mandate require facilities to consider the ASHRAE188 standard when creating a water management plan. Our solution was created using this standard and audited by one of the original architects of the standard - Bill Pearson.
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How do I keep everything standardized with numerous facilities?
Our water management plans are robust, but not cumbersome. While every building has different risk factors which requires an individual water management plan, the control measures are standardized. This ensures a comprehensive and standard program across all buildings.
Legionella & Waterborne Pathogen Testing
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What am I testing for?Specifically, you are testing for the species Legionella pneumophila and other waterborne pathogens. Sero group number 1 of this species is currently associated with the most causes of illness. We at IWC test for Sero groups 1 to 16.We also provide testing for other waterborne disease and hazardous contaminants in water.
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What is Legionella?
Legionella is a waterborne pathogen that causes legionellosis, Legionnaires' disease, and Pontiac fever. There are 50 species and 70 serogroups identified of Legionella, and it is most commonly found in water systems. Outbreaks are typically caused by inadequately maintained water systems and cooling towers.
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What is Legionnaires' disease?
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella. Individuals can become ill after inhaling tiny droplets of water or accidentally swallowing water that contains Legionella into their lungs.
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How often do I have to test?The CMS mandate does not specifically require testing. However, it does point to the state and local health department and their individual requirements. IWC Innovations can help you determine if you need to test. Often times we recommend no less than testing once per quarter to monitor the growth of Legionella bacteria in your water system.
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What happens if a test comes back positive?Do not panic. IWC Innovations has the leading expertise in interpreting Legionella-positive test results, so that you only put the resolutions in place that are absolutely necessary. Not every positive result necessitates a full-blown case investigation and remediation. Trust the IWC Innovations case experts to guide you.
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Does testing expose me to more liability?We believe in a proactive vs. reactive approach. Your risk is significantly mitigated if you test routinely so you can detect Legionella early on in small numbers when intervention is necessarily minimal. Water Management Plans are considered the number one defense in preventing Legionella.
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What do your Legionella services include?Our Legionella services cover the entire spectrum, including consulting, water management plan development, site assessments to determine Legionella risk, and a plan to address the risks, testing, investigations, remediation, and prevention.
Legionella Remediation & Sanitization
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What is your process for remediation?IWC's HydroTreat Remediation process is a breakthrough technology for Legionella problems. The HydroTreat process is a reliable and affordable technology that can fight Legionella bacteria at any scale.
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Is there any way I can make sure my facility does not get Legionella?
There are some very expensive options on the market for Legionella prevention. They all have their disadvantages. IWC Innovation experts will determine the best process for your facility to mitigate Legionella growth. -
My facility tested positive for Legionella. Now what?
It is essential that you chose a company with professionals who have the latest training, knowledge and certifications necessary. The most recent professional qualification standard is the ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialist certification. IWC Innovations is proud to have five of our top professionals with this distinguished certification.
IWC Innovations offers complete remediation consultation, communication with necessary agencies, and recommendations on next steps. IWC provides a full Legionella investigation and further testing done on site with same day results.
Water Treatment
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Why is water treatment important?
Water treatment is the foundation for clean, safe water. IWC Innovations provides environmentally safe water treatment and Legionella monitoring to reduce the risk of waterborne pathogens to ensure that the water in your facility is safer than ever!
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How often should I perform water treatment?
IWC Innovations performs a site visit to devise a customized plan to ensure the maximum efficiency and output of your water system. No two water treatment plans are alike, and it is critical for your company that your site visit be completed so we can create your customized water treatment plan.
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What types of equipment do you service?
IWC Innovations services cooling towers, steam boilers, closed loops, water softeners and more.