Health Risks Caused by Plumbing, and How to Prevent Them

Water safety leads to healthier homes and healthier, safer families. Improper use of plumbing materials can lead to water supply issues, either due to improper installation or the specification of unsuitable plumbing materials entirely.

Every material your water supply comes into contact with may have an effect on it; therefore, it is important to know the risks associated with plumbing materials in the delivery of safe, clean water. 

This is why FlowGuard® CPVC is designed to help minimise the threats associated with waterborne bacteria and contaminants. Its installation methods help ensure safe delivery of water to the homes, families and communities that need it around the world.

Let's take a closer look at some of the health risks associated with plumbing and some of the best ways to avoid them.

Biofilm Contamination

Legionella bacteria

Legionella bacteria is a common byproduct of biofilm formation. Inside plumbing pipes, if conditions are suitable for biofilm growth, legionella is arguably the principal risk. This bacteria can lead to potentially life threatening illnesses like legionnaires disease. Legionella bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever in those exposed; this is a rare, flu-like illness, dangerous because it is often mistaken for ordinary flu, which is why so many of its sufferers do not consider their water supply to be potentially contaminated.

Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas are another form of harmful bacteria which can lead to severe illnesses, particularly in those with weaker immune systems. Like legionella, it thrives on the healthy development of biofilm, a common threat to plumbing pipes. Pseudomonas can also thrive on natural organic nutrients found in water, as well as stagnant water, which has been allowed to remain still for extended periods of time.

Biofilm formation is the most likely cause of legionella growth in domestic plumbing pipes. Layers of biofilm can form on the interior surface of plumbing pipes and play host to a thriving environment for multiplying bacteria, including legionella. Plumbing pipes such as PPR can inadvertently provide a suitable natural environment for biofilm through which legionella can develop. This could be due to internal beading caused from the joining process.

To minimise the threat of legionella, pseudomonas and other related harmful bacteria, you must minimise the development of biofilm. 

FlowGuard CPVC is not conducive to biofilm growth and minimises the threat of developing harmful bacteria like pseudomonas, legionella and more, as demonstrated in the Kiwa water assessment. This confirms CPVC has significantly reduced potential for biofilm formation, compared to other piping materials, including PPR.

Bacteria can be introduced to a plumbing system from a variety of unavoidable sources. No piping system will prevent bacterial growth, however disinfectants such as chlorine, chloramine and chlorine dioxide are commonly added to the water supply to help combat the growth of bacteria in water. 

Unfortunately, these disinfectants can cause serious problems for PPR and copper plumbing systems.

Chlorine incompatibility

Chlorine is a common disinfectant in water supplies; however, it can degrade certain plumbing systems. For example, the chlorine present in common potable water can react with PPR pipe material over time, causing the material to become weaker, leading to system defects and inevitable pipe system failure.

FlowGuard CPVC is not affected by chlorine and chlorine dioxide commonly found in potable water distribution systems, as demonstrated by the below pictures, comparing the resistance of CPVC and PPR pipe against hot chlorinated water:

Leaks in plumbing systems