Parliament taps up the spout as legionella bacteria found

Published on Monday 6 April 2009 10:44

HOLYROOD bosses are to rip out the expensive automatic taps in some parts of the Scottish Parliament in a bid to banish potentially deadly legionella bacteria from the building.

The taps, which mix hot and cold water to a pre-determined temperature and go on and off automatically when someone puts their hands underneath, have been identified as a likely source of the bacteria.

Now the parliament is set to spend around 6000 replacing around 17 of the taps with traditional ones where the user has to turn them on and off and adjust the temperature of the water.

A spokesman explained that the pre-mixing of hot and cold water meant there was a potential for warm water to be lying in pipes, providing a breeding ground for the bacteria.

Independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald recalled that when the 414 million building was being designed, parliament bosses had boasted that the automatic taps were an environmentally-friendly initiative which would help conserve water.

She said: "Like a great number of other things to do with the building, it did seem a good idea at the time."

Legionella bacteria were found at the parliament in June last year, although the discovery was not disclosed at the time.

The bug was traced to a hot water tank inside Queensberry House, the 17th century mansion at the heart of the Holyrood complex, and the system was doused with extra levels of chlorine.

Tests between September and December gave the all-clear but in January an improved testing regime showed legionella was present again when 39 taps were tested in Queensberry House and the Canongate building.

Now parliament's chief executive Paul Grice has written to building users to update them on the latest legionella situation.

He told them recent tests had shown a reduction in the number of positive readings for bacteria in Queensberry House and Canongate and also the levels being detected, which he said were "very low".

But he added: "A review of the information available to date has led our expert to the conclusion that the thermostatic mixer valves fitted to low-use taps in the toilet facilities is a contributing factor to the current situation.

"A programme of works to replace these mixer taps is currently under way."

Other parts of the Holyrood complex also have automatic mixer taps, but a parliament spokesman said attention was being confined to the areas where legionella had been discovered.

He said the parliament was working with an independent expert to agree appropriate actions in controlling legionella bacteria.