Watchdog turns up heat on water coolers

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 08:58

A CONSUMER watchdog has warned dirty water coolers are putting people's health at risk after it was revealed a quarter fail contamination tests.

In a survey by environmental health officers across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders, 26 per cent of coolers tested in schools, care homes, leisure centres and workplaces failed to meet one or more safety and hygiene standards. Consumer Focus Scotland is now calling for a review of the law.

Senior policy advocate and food policy specialist at Consumer Focus Scotland, Mary Lawton, said: "We feel the legislation governing the quality of water from coolers should be reviewed.

"These findings suggest that the cleanliness of water coolers has become a low priority for some organisations.

"The time is right for an awareness campaign, not just to get organisations to make sure the coolers on their premises are cleaned and maintained regularly, but also to get people to use them in such a way that they don't contaminate them for the next person."

Samples were tested for five bacteria types known to cause illness, particularly in people who are vulnerable due to frailty or existing ill health.