Legionella bacteria can cause serious illness, but the risk is easy to manage with a few simple precautions.
Our gas engineers ensure your hot water is heated to at least 60°C, which is hot enough to kill bacteria like Legionella. Please do not adjust your boiler settings. If you think your hot water isn’t hot enough, contact us right away.
The risk of Legionella is very low when taps are used regularly. However, if you’ve been away for an extended period—such as during a summer holiday—run all taps (indoors and outdoors) for a couple of minutes upon your return.
If you notice any of the following, please report it as a fault:
- warm water coming from cold taps after running them for a while
- discoloured water
- water with particles, an unusual smell, or an odd taste
Regularly descaling shower heads and taps also helps reduce risk.
To report a fault, contact us at customerrepairsteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9284 1311