What are your obligations?
Types of installations in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, drinking water installations are divided into three categories: Priority, Duty of Care and Domestic. Each category has specific obligations and responsibilities when it comes to delivering safe drinking water and controlling risks such as legionella.
1. Priority Installations
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What are Priority Installations?
Priority installations are collective installations that pose an increased risk of legionella contamination. These installations are specifically named in the Drinking Water Decree ( Article 35, Scope ).
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Obligations for Priority Installations:
As the owner or manager of a priority installation, you have strict obligations under Dutch law, including:
- Risk analysis : You must have a risk analysis carried out to identify potential Legionella hazards.
- Management plan : Based on the risk analysis, a management plan must be drawn up and adhered to, specifically aimed at preventing Legionella contamination.
- Periodic Sampling : Water samples should be taken regularly to check for legionella.
- Maintenance and Inspection : Regular inspection and maintenance of water installations is mandatory to prevent legionella growth.
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Examples of Priority Installations:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Swimming pools
- Hotels
- Campsites
- Marinas
- Saunas
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2. Duty of Care Installations
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What is Duty of Care?
Duty of care applies to all other non-priority installations, such as office buildings, industrial installations, and commercial buildings. Even though these installations do not fall under the strict rules of priority installations, the duty of care requires that the owner or manager provides proper drinking water that meets the legal quality requirements.
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Obligations under Duty of Care:
- Safe Drinking Water : You are obliged to ensure that the drinking water in your installation is safe and of good quality.
- Maintenance : Regular maintenance of the water installations to ensure soundness.
- Preventative Measures : Taking preventative measures to prevent Legionella growth, such as checking water temperatures and flushing pipes regularly.
3. Domestic Installations
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What are Domestic Installations?
Domestic installations are the water installations in homes. Unlike priority and duty of care installations, there are no specific legal obligations for domestic installations with regard to legionella prevention.
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Responsibilities for Domestic Installations:
- Personal Responsibility : As a homeowner, you are responsible for the management and maintenance of your water system.
- Legionella prevention : Although there are no legal obligations, it is advisable to carry out regular maintenance and take preventive measures, such as flushing unused pipes and checking the temperature of hot water.