Water safety is often focused only on Legionella control, but an effective program can provide a much wider range of benefits. Water quality influences not only occupant health but also the performance of infrastructure, long-term sustainability goals, and financial outcomes. When facilities rely on outdated or incomplete water management strategies, they leave themselves vulnerable to risks that go well beyond Legionella.
A smarter approach, grounded in a multi-barrier water management strategy, offers a way to protect people, extend equipment life, reduce operational costs, and support sustainability.
Why traditional water treatment methods fall short
Many facilities continue to lean on conventional practices such as flushing, temperature monitoring, and municipal disinfectant residuals. While these measures are widely used, they rarely address the real drivers of waterborne pathogen risk. Biofilm and sediment shield bacteria from disinfectants, temperature control is ineffective, cold water risks are overlooked, and flushing programs often require significant time and energy without producing lasting results.
The cycle of monitoring and corrective actions that results from these methods is not just inefficient; it can mask bigger problems, such as hidden sediment accumulation or corrosion that undermines water quality throughout a building.
The overlooked role of sediment
Sediment is an underestimated challenge in building water systems. Sediment is naturally present in source water and often introduced through water main breaks, construction activity, or corrosion within pipes. Once inside, it quietly disrupts both water quality and infrastructure:
- Sediment provides a constant food source for bacteria
- It consumes disinfectants, reducing their effectiveness
- It shields biofilm and pathogens, making them harder to eliminate
- It accelerates wear on pumps, valves, and pipes, cutting years off their expected lifespan
Sediment-induced damage
Broader impacts on facilities
Poor water management is not just a safety concern; it affects every part of a facility’s operation.
- Clinical outcomes: Waterborne pathogens such as Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter contribute to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which the CDC estimates affect 1 in 31 hospital patients on any given day. Up to 20% of these infections are linked to water exposure.
- Infrastructure reliability: Sediment, corrosion, and biofilm shorten equipment life, leading to frequent repairs, replacements, and unplanned shutdowns.
- Operational efficiency: Low flow, clogged valves, and repeated maintenance events reduce staff efficiency and increase costs.
- Sustainability performance: Heating water to extreme temperatures or depending on chemical-heavy treatments consumes unnecessary energy and adds environmental burden.
- Financial outcomes: Each HAI can cost hospitals more than $30,000 in direct expenses, not including reputational impact or compliance scrutiny.
This interconnected risk landscape is why leading facilities are rethinking their approach with multi-barrier solutions that go beyond Legionella and compliance.
Smarter water management
A multi-barrier approach layers proven technologies with expert service to create a comprehensive, defensible water management strategy. Together, these measures protect both people and infrastructure:
- Sediment filtration removes particulates before they enter the system, cutting off nutrients for bacteria and preventing equipment damage.
- UV disinfection inactivates microorganisms at the building’s point of entry, stopping new bacteria from infiltrating plumbing systems.
- Copper-silver ionization delivers residual protection throughout hot and cold water systems, even in challenging conditions where temperature and flow vary.
- Smart sensors provide continuous monitoring, predictive insights, and defensible data.
These technologies are integrated into a program supported by data analytics and remote monitoring, ensuring that facility teams can act proactively instead of reactively.
Real-world results
The benefits of this approach are measurable. In one academic medical center, implementing a multi-barrier solution allowed hot water heaters to be lowered from 160°F to 125°F while still achieving non-detect Legionella results, cutting energy use by 50%. Another facility reduced sediment loads by nearly 98%, preventing costly pump failures and improving system reliability.
Even more importantly, infection risk was significantly reduced. One facility saw complete elimination of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Stenotrophomonas detections, improving patient safety and reducing the burden of HAIs.
Rethink water safety for the future
Water is more than a utility; it’s a clinical, operational, and financial risk factor. By addressing underlying issues like sediment and biofilm with smarter, layered protection, facilities can safeguard their people, extend equipment life, and achieve long-term results.
If your current water management strategy feels like a cycle of short-term fixes, it may be time to take a smarter approach.
Connect with a LiquiTech water safety expert today to explore how a multi-barrier strategy can transform your facility’s water quality and performance.
