Legionella Prevention in Showers: A Guide from Lubron’s Experts

Every day, millions of people throughout the UK use a shower to freshen up, have a wash and get themselves clean. Whether it’s at home before starting the day, after a workout at the gym or following a swim at the local pool, this common habit can actually be putting you in danger.
This potential danger comes in the form of a harmful bacterium called Legionella, which, if inhaled, can lead to a serious illness called Legionnaires’ disease. This is usually associated with large and complex water systems such as air conditioning, cooling towers, hot tubs and spas. However, they can thrive in any water system, of any size, given the right conditions and this includes showers.
In this comprehensive guide, our experts provide the essential steps for preventing Legionella in various settings, from understanding the risks to proper maintenance techniques and professional shower legionella control measures. We’ll also examine how factors like limescale buildup in hard water areas can increase risks, and what solutions are available to protect your shower systems.

Legionnaires Disease Risk in Showers

The first thing to consider when it comes to commercial or domestic shower systems is ‘where does the shower water come from?’. In most cases, it is supplied from a water tank, and this is also often heated. If that is the case, then it is important to know what temperature it is set at, because temperatures between 20–45°C best facilitate the conditions for Legionella bacteria to thrive. This therefore means that the water must be stored at temperatures of at least 60°C and distributed at a temperature above 50°C in order to ensure that the unwanted bacteria cannot survive.
Another factor is the geology of where you live and the composition of the water. When rain falls, it filters through rock and minerals, including calcium and magnesium dissolve in the water. Water which has a high mineral content is known as hard water, and the limescale provides nutrients for legionella bacteria, helping them to grow and multiply. This is why it is important to ensure that shower heads and taps are regularly descaled to help reduce limescale buildup.
People may think that an infrequently used shower poses no threat, but the opposite is actually true. When showers are left unused for long periods of time, the water in the system can become stagnant, leading to a buildup of legionella bacteria. When turned on, these bacteria can then become aerosolised, flowing out of the shower where they can be inhaled.
For properties where showers may go long periods between use, it is recommended that they are run for a couple of minutes a week, ensuring that you leave the room whilst doing so to avoid breathing in any droplets containing legionella. Flushing the shower regularly can help to avoid this unwanted contamination, so it is a good idea to keep a log or record of when it has been done.
To understand the legal importance of risk assessments and how they protect both people and property, check out our detailed guide: Don’t Risk It: The Importance of Legionella Risk Assessments.

Understanding Legionella Risks in Different Shower Environments

Showers present a unique challenge in combating Legionella bacteria across various settings. The risk of infection increases dramatically in certain environments depending on the complexity of the water system, physical characteristics of the property, the water supply or usage patterns, all of which can contribute towards conditions for bacterial growth.
There are also types of buildings, sectors and properties where the risks and dangers of legionella are higher.
Shower behaviour and usage – The way that showers are utilised can have a big impact on their chances of legionella contamination. For example, places like holiday homes and student accommodation, as well as many other types of properties, can sit unused for long periods of time. This means that the water can become stagnant and lead to an increased risk of legionella numbers reaching dangerous levels.
Showers that are not used regularly should be flushed for a few minutes every week or so to allow the contaminated water to wash away and ensure that no aerosolised particles are breathed in.
Shower design – Being able to easily access and remove the shower head is a key part of proper cleaning and limescale removal for the prevention of legionella. Showers that are designed in a way that makes them difficult to access or so they cannot be quickly and easily removed mean that limescale cleaning will be less efficient.
This is especially important in places such as hospitals, gyms, spas and large properties that tend to have more robust showers, designed in a way that doesn’t always allow for them to be taken apart for descaling.
Maintenance – Failing to properly maintain showers is extremely dangerous, especially in sectors where they pose the biggest threat, such as in hospitals and care facilities.
A regular, thorough and efficient cleaning and maintenance regime is important for any water system that has showers, whether it’s in a hotel, leisure centre, hospital or spa. Ensuring that all showers undergo the proper checks, tests, cleaning, descaling, and maintenance can go a long way to ensuring that legionella numbers are kept low and that the risk is greatly reduced.
Click here for more information on how water hygiene companies can help to prevent health risks.

Essential Legionella Shower Cleaning Techniques

Regular maintenance of shower heads forms the cornerstone of effective Legionella prevention. Shower heads act as filters, trapping debris and scale, which provide both nutrients and safe habitats for bacteria to multiply. For this reason, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends cleaning and descaling shower heads and hoses at least every three months.
To effectively control Legionella in shower systems, a structured three-stage cleaning procedure is essential:
Stage 1: Clean and Descale – Initially, remove and disassemble the shower head and hose. Immerse them in a descaling agent for approximately one hour. For a cost-effective solution, white vinegar works excellently as a natural descaler – simply submerge the shower head in a bag filled with vinegar and secure it with a rubber band, leaving it overnight.
Stage 2: Disinfect – Subsequently, immerse the components in an approved disinfectant solution. This could be a specialist product which follows the ACOP L8 & HSG274 standards and is proven to kill Legionella pneumophila. The shower head should remain in the solution for at least five minutes.
Stage 3: Flush and Reinstall – Finally, thoroughly rinse all components with clean water before reassembling and reattaching. Run hot water through the shower for several minutes to flush out any remaining cleaning agents or loose deposits.
For fixed shower heads that cannot be dismantled, specialised gel products can be applied directly to clean and disinfect.
The effectiveness of regular shower head maintenance cannot be overstated – it removes both the habitat and nutrients required by Legionella bacteria, consequently minimising multiplication risks and protecting public health.
How Water Hygiene Services Protect Your Water System

Professional Legionella Control for Showers in High-Risk Settings

In high-risk settings, professional legionella control goes far beyond basic cleaning and maintenance. Healthcare facilities, care homes, and buildings with complex water systems require specialised approaches to shower legionella control and this is where the experts at Lubron can help.
From legionella testing, risk assessments and management, using external specialists with experience in legionella control can be extremely beneficial, especially for those with more complex water systems or in the aforementioned high-risk settings. For a deeper look at how risk assessment companies support safe water systems, read our guide on The Role of Professional Legionella Risk Assessment Companies.
Our dedicated experts are on hand to provide unrivalled legionella control and tailored solutions for your needs with our responsive, efficient and cost-effective water hygiene services. With UK-wide coverage, our hygiene team of certified and experienced engineers deliver scalable solutions alongside clear, transparent reporting to ensure that your business is safe from the threat of legionella.
Ready to safeguard your shower systems from Legionella? Contact us today for a free consultation or to book a full risk assessment with our expert engineers.