Healthcare facilities today face increasing water safety risks. Aging infrastructure, frequent water main breaks, and elevated sediment levels are straining plumbing systems and creating ideal conditions for waterborne pathogens to thrive. Municipal treatment processes, while essential, often don’t address these downstream challenges once water enters a facility. The result is a growing concern for occupant safety, equipment reliability, and compliance.
One healthcare facility confronted these realities head-on after dealing with Legionella positivity in its cold-water system, as well as recurring detection of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Stenotrophomonas. Beyond microbial risks, high sediment loads from the municipal water supply were causing significant damage to plumbing infrastructure, increasing maintenance costs, and accelerating corrosion. Traditional remediation approaches were unable to deliver sustainable results.
The Challenge
- Persistent Legionella risk: Routine water testing revealed 90% positivity in the cold-water system, signaling a systemic issue.
- Opportunistic pathogens: Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Stenotrophomonas were repeatedly detected, raising concerns about healthcare-associated infection (HAI) risk.
- Infrastructure strain: Sediment buildup contributed to equipment failures, clogged plumbing, and costly maintenance interventions.
The facility needed a comprehensive strategy that could both eliminate pathogens and reduce the environmental conditions that allowed them to flourish.
The solution: A multi-barrier approach
To address these challenges, LiquiTech implemented a multi-barrier water treatment solution designed to deliver layered protection:
- Sediment Filtration
Captured and removed 40 tons of sediment per year entering from the municipal water supply. Sediment particles are a primary nutrient source for bacteria and accelerate biofilm formation and pipe corrosion. Removing them eliminated the foundation for pathogen growth and reduced strain on infrastructure. - UV Disinfection
Added as a preventative measure to inactivate microorganisms at the building’s entry point. This reduced the risk of new pathogens entering the system and provided an additional layer of protection upstream. - Copper-Silver Ionization
Delivered continuous, system-wide disinfection by releasing precise levels of ions throughout the plumbing system. This technology is particularly effective against Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter, and helps ensure long-term pathogen control.
Together, these technologies worked in synergy to address the root causes of water quality problems and provide sustained protection.
The results
- Legionella eradication in cold water:
Legionella positivity was reduced from 90% to 0% within weeks, with non-detectable levels sustained long-term. By removing sediment, the bacteria’s primary nutrient source, the facility was able to resolve one of the most persistent risks in healthcare water systems. - Infrastructure protection and cost reduction:
Sediment filtration prevented 40 tons of sediment per year from entering the facility. This not only reduced wear and tear on plumbing but also improved system performance and longevity. A 70% reduction in 2-micron particles was achieved using a 5-micron filter, helping prevent biofilm formation and slowing corrosion. - Reduction of opportunistic pathogens:
Within months, copper-silver ionization achieved a 100% reduction in Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Stenotrophomonas. Continuous system-wide disinfection provided long-term protection and reduced the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
By addressing microbial challenges, sediment-related damage, and infrastructure reliability together, the facility established a new standard of care for water safety. The solution not only safeguarded patients and staff but also delivered measurable operational and financial benefits.
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