Services

Legionella Risk Assessments

The purpose of the initial cooling tower or hot water system risk assessment is to identify any procedures, service deficiencies or physical risks associated with the system that may increase the likelihood of a Legionella incident occurring on your site, or negatively impact on the condition of the plant, i.e. corrosion or scale. It would only be necessary to review the initial site inspection if there has been a change in the equipment, work methods or any other change that may affect the cooling towers.

Legionella Risk Management Plans

For the facilities manager or the site engineer looking to ensure that they are minimising their risks and maximising the effectiveness of their Legionella risk management program; Cogent Partners provides services to assist you to determine a Legionella risk management plan most suited to your cooling system and business environment.

We will also ensure that, when required, you can demonstrate to the Department of WH&S that your Legionella Risk Management Plan procedures and documentation are fully compliant.

A Legionella risk management plan should be reviewed and audited at least annually;

Water Treatment Specifications

Ideally ‘site specific’ water treatment specifications should be included as part of the RMP. Water treatment specifications should document the frequency of service, method of treatment, key performance indicators, reporting expectations, and corrective action procedures. Cogent Partners can prepare site specific water treatment specifications that shall very clearly relay your quality of service and reporting expectations to the water treatment provider.

RMP Audits

It is recommended (compulsory in Victoria) that audits of Legionella risk management plans are carried out every 12 months, usually just before the renewal of the water treatment contract, audits are a valuable tool used to identify any failure in service or treatment program before it has had time to negatively impact on the system.

The results of the audit are used to evaluate the efficiency of the water treatment program, compliance to your specifications and service standards along with any industry Standards and Guidelines.

Microbiological Sampling

Sampling just for the sake of sampling shall achieve very little in the way of useful information on how to control the microbiological load in a cooling tower system. Cogent Partners will design a sampling and monitoring strategy that will provide valuable feedback on the effectiveness of your preventive water treatment program. This feedback shall provide you with the information to enable you to make informed decisions on your Legionella risk management strategy.

Our other sampling services include;

Water Efficiency Audits

Cogent Partners have consultants who are certified water efficiency assessors (category WEA2). We can prepare water efficiency management plans (WEMP) from scratch or assist you by certifying that your self prepared plan has been prepared in accordance with, and meets the requirements of, the QWC guidelines.

Legionella Investigations

The underlying causes of recurring Legionella detections or out of specification Heterotrophic Colony Counts are sometimes obscure and require expert investigation.

Cogent Partners provides expert water system engineering along with microbiological knowledge, to aid our clients who have been frustrated by the failure of their preventive water treatment systems to control the microbiological load in their cooling tower systems.

Legionella Awareness Training Programs

Cogent Partners training courses have been developed to provide those persons with the responsibility for the safe and effective operation of cooling tower systems, with the skills and knowledge to monitor and manage a preventative water treatment program.

Training courses can be delivered on-site, and on the issues and risks relevant to your own individual cooling tower systems, or at a location convenient to you.

Courses can be specifically designed to your individual training requirements and may include topic such as; The training would be most beneficial to;

Corrosion Monitoring

We can supply corrosion and pitting monitoring programs via corrosion coupons chosen to match the metals in the water system. Alternatively corrosion and pitting rates can be monitored by installing an online data logging corrosion monitoring system using linear polarisation equipment. Independent corrosion monitoring is becoming popular amongst engineers and assets managers that wish to monitor the efficiency of their preventive water treatment program and to be assured of the efficacy of the results that are reported.

Storm Water Management Plans

Cogent Partners are experienced in the preparation of stormwater management plans; we can prepare stormwater plans that will ensure that you are complying with your EPA Licence requirements.

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

Bio-aerosols can adversely affect the health of visitors and employees in commercial properties. Facility managers and engineers who are responsible for the health and well being of the occupants often find it is necessary to assess the level of airborne contaminants. Cogent Partners performs sampling and testing of the indoor air for potentially harmful bacteria and other organisms that may expose your employees and visitors to a health risk.