Legionellosis is a term for diseases caused by Legionella bacteria including the most serious, Legionnaires' disease, as well as the less serious condition of Pontiac fever.

In 2017, the Public Health Act 2005 and the Public Health Regulation 2018 were updated to improve water risk management practices.

The changes aim to reduce the health risks of legionella bacteria in the water at hospitals and aged care facilities.

The legislation affects:

• Queensland Health hospitals and inpatients
• private health facilities
• Queensland Health aged care facilities
• private aged care facilities

The requirements for the facilities are to:

• develop a water risk management plan that covers all water related hazards including monitoring for legionella
• follow their water risk management plan
• notify the chief executive or the Department of Health within one business day of detecting legionella
• regularly send reports with the results of testing for legionella.

For more information on how to develop a water risk management plan for legionella, please visit the Queensland Health website.

Is Logan's water supply safe to drink?

Yes, Logan’s water supply is safe to drink and continues to meet required standards of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and the Public Health Act (2018).

Facts about Logan's drinking water

Council undertakes extensive monitoring of the drinking water supply to confirm it is safe. Our monitoring program:

• Is approved by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME).
• In accordance of the Public Health Regulation 2018 requirements.
• Follows the guidance provided in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG 2011).
• Tests for a variety of microbiological, chemical and physical parameters.
• This includes testing for E. coli, a key indicator of microbiological contamination. These tests are conducted on a weekly basis at every reservoir and other distribution network sites throughout the supply region.
• We do not test for Legionella, as we are not required to do so under current guidelines and legislation.

We will notify Queensland Health of any drinking water health breaches. If this does happen, we will work closely with Queensland Health to make sure the water supply is safe. If we have any concerns about the water supply, we will keep the community up to date. We will issue a public notice if residents ever need to boil their water for safety.