drinking water supply...

[dannyboy]

i recently added a cold water supply to supply my fridge dispencer/ice maker...i was told that my pipework was too long to be used as a drinking water supply..and there may be a risk of legionnaires disease?? is there a regulation length for drinking water supply pipes? thanks

 

[oldplumber]

no, as long as the waters used regularly theres no issue, after all how longs the mains supply to your house.

 

[defendertd5]

would not a service valve and single check valve be rquired aLSO ?

 

[WHPES]

Service valve but not check valve unless specified in the MI.

 

[testarossa]

Service valve but not check valve unless specified in the MI.

YEah right.. service valve.

 

[GQuigley67]

best fridges! dont know how i survived without one before lol great for hangovers

 

[CHRISMUR]

"Hello",

The person who told you this MAY be thinking that your pipework - which I am assuming runs within the Kitchen - will NOT have the Mains Water `Flowing` anything like as often as one would expect from a `Normal` Drinking Water Supply - for example at the Kitchen Sink - So perhaps the Water within the Pipe will be `Warming Up` due to being in what is often a `Very Warm` area - the Kitchen.

THIS would be a `Stretch of the Imagination` - because IF You intend that the Supply WILL be used even a couple of times per Day - THAT should ENSURE that there would be `No Chance` of `Bacterial Multiplication` - Legionella cannot occur because it would not be `Introduced` into the Pipework to start with.

I am NOT stating that the Water could NEVER become `Unwholesome` - ?? - I am sure that We all `Run` the Mains Water when We return from a Holiday - or a few days away from Home [?] - I do this every day when I come in.
IF the Mains Water Supply to Your Fridge was NOT used for `Days` - OR `Weeks` - I would NOT want the Water which was `Laying` in the Pipework to `Enter` the Fridge - Just as a `Precaution`.

Is there a`Flush Facility` on the Fridge - ?? And if so would You be able to `Flush` enough Water [Into a Container] to `Clear` the Water that had been laying in the Pipework ?? - Perhaps `Flushing` a small amount at a time using a small container ?? - IF You remember [First Time] that is.

Just a few thoughts on this - Please don`t think that I am `Paranoid` about this - I am trying to `Play` `Devils Advocate` - Think WHAT the person who mentioned this meant ??
They may be thinking that a `very low usage` of Mains Water constitutes a `Dead Leg` of `Drinking Water` [Potable] Pipework - ??


I would `Welcome` a reply from You regarding my `Comments`.


"Regards",


CHRISMUR.

 

[unguided1]

To be honest you have a greater risk of legionellas off your shower head, it is an absolute breeding ground for legionellas. Typically because the shower head never gets 60 degree water through it customers rarely clean them with bleach and they create a spray, which means when yer in the shower using it you can breath in the spray.

 

[CHRISMUR]

"Hello",

I an a Building Services Engineer - On the subject of Legionella - You are correct in that the `Disease` is caught by Inhaling Contaminated Droplets of Water - which CAN be from Contamination that occurred within the Hot Water - Stored at an Incorrect Temperature - and there IS a possibility of catching
Legionella from water droplets from a Shower Head.

The`Bleaching` of a Shower Head would not stop the Contamination - which would have occurred within the Hot Water Cylinder for example.

I hope that I made it `Clear` that I was `Playing Devils Advocate` - In trying to `Imagine` WHAT the person who made the Original Comment was eluding to.

The Fact that Legionella occurs in Water at Temperatures which are LESS than 60 Degrees
could have someone `Imagining` that if the Water within the Mains Supply to the Fridge was NOT used for a while - because it [I am Guessing] is running within a Kitchen area - which can be `Warm` or `Hot`- that the Water could `Warm Up` to perhaps allow the Legionella Bacteria to `occur`.

THIS would NOT be the case - A VERY `Simple` explanation is because Legionella `Thrives` in a Location where `USUALLY` it has been `Introduced` from the Atmosphere and then `Heat` allows the Bacteria to Multiply - BELOW 60 Degrees [C] - In the case of a [presumed] `Dead Leg` of Mains Water - which contains Fluoride the `Introduction` of the Legionella Bacteria should NOT be possible - as the Water in the Pipework is NOT `Open to Atmosphere` - NO `Introduction` equals `NO Multiplication`.

I did NOT really want to get into a `debate` about Legionella Bacteria - AND - I am NOT stating that my description above is a `Text Book` description - I have not used ANY `Technical` or `Biological` Terms - I wanted to give a `Simple Explanation` about this.

MY `Priority` in `Posting` a reply on here is to possibly help the Questioner to see what the person who commented on his Mains Supply Pipework to his Fridge was referring to.

I would refer back to my Original Post - The comments contained within that are Me `Guessing` what the `Commenter` might have meant.

There ARE circumstances where `Potable` Water Supply Pipework to something like a Fridge could become `Unwholesome` - And I would then NOT want it to `Enter` MY Fridge - Perhaps an `Extreme` example of what I explained in my previous `Post` - regarding the Supply to the Fridge not being used for some time.

People like `Water Authority Inspectors` view things such as this - to the `Most Extreme Level` - The `Mearest Chance` of ANY `Contamination` to `Potable Water` - Supplying ANY `Consumable Source` - would FAIL their `Inspection` Criteria.

Looking for `Specific` Regulations is often NOT the way to view these matters - `Can the Potable Water become `Unwholesome` ?? - is the way that the person that commented on this is probably thinking [?]

I HOPE that my comments will `Help` the Questioner to look at his pipework and `Judge` whether the Water could EVER `Become `Unwholesome`/ `UNFIT TO DRINK` - IF the answer is that `In some circumstances it could` - That would classify the Pipework as `Unsuitable` to Supply the Fridge.

One point to remember is that you do not `Run Off` any of the Mains Water prior to it `Entering` the Fridge - As you would do before Drinking some at a Tap.

BUT - He should then decide whether when using the Fridge features that are supplied by the Mains Water Supply - These are being used often enough by Him and his Family - that the `Infrequent Use` theory would not apply [?].


"Regards",


CHRISMUR.

 

[SimonG]

All the fridges I've had to hook upto mains cold water have had a water filter!

 

[CHRISMUR]

"Hello SimonG",

Can You please explain the significance of what You `Posted` about the Water Filter.

Some people might think that You were suggesting that because of the Water Filter - Bacteria etc. could NOT enter the Fridge - And that You were also suggesting that the Filter would mean that the Water entering the Fridge could NOT become `Unwholesome`/ `UnDrinkable`.

"Please" don`t take Offence to this : When people `Post` one line answers or comments - it is OFTEN `Unclear` what they mean by them.

I `REALISE` that there will be people on this Forum that `HATE` the fact that some of my `Posts` are `VERY LONG` - I would try to be `Concise` about Subjects IF I thought that I could `Explain` well enough while being `Brief` - But very often when trying to `explain` about a Plumbing Subject - `Brevity` is NOT possible.

"Regards".

CHRISMUR.

 

[GQuigley67]

mine doesnt have the water filter and my fridge water is the best

 

[SimonG]

"Hello SimonG",

Can You please explain the significance of what You `Posted` about the Water Filter.

Some people might think that You were suggesting that because of the Water Filter - Bacteria etc. could NOT enter the Fridge - And that You were also suggesting that the Filter would mean that the Water entering the Fridge could NOT become `Unwholesome`/ `UnDrinkable`.

"Please" don`t take Offence to this : When people `Post` one line answers or comments - it is OFTEN `Unclear` what they mean by them.

I `REALISE` that there will be people on this Forum that `HATE` the fact that some of my `Posts` are `VERY LONG` - I would try to be `Concise` about Subjects IF I thought that I could `Explain` well enough while being `Brief` - But very often when trying to `explain` about a Plumbing Subject - `Brevity` is NOT possible.

"Regards".

CHRISMUR.

As stated "all fridges I have fitted have had a filter". The filter has been in line or in built within the fridge, and it filters out whatever the filter is rated for.

 

[CHRISMUR]

"Hello SimonG",

I hope that WE will not get into an `argument`about this - The Filters that You are writing about do not `Remove` Bacteria from the Water Supply - or `particulates`of a similarly `minute` size.

As this subject that We have both responded to contained the `suggestion` that there could be a possibility of Legionella - and I had Posted a `Lengthy` text about that - I wanted to try to ensure that `Others` - who might not have experience of this matter - MOST People - would NOT take your comment about the Filter to mean that it would `Solve` any Problem of this nature by `Filtering out` Bacteria etc.

Please don`t take offence - If I was not a Building Services Engineer / Plumber and I had read MY `Post` about the commenter `Imagining` the Risk of Legionella - and THEN read Your `Post` commenting about the Water Filter - I might think that the `Water Filter` comment `Countered` the comments regarding Legionella, meaning that Installing a Water Filter would protect against that and other Bacterias etc.

I am NOT `Being Pedantic` here - Nor would I `Pick Up` on everything that I felt was not described correctly
when I read `Posts` on here - When I asked You for `Clarification` I just wanted you to explain WHY the Water Filter was `Significant` - Regarding THIS Subject ?


"Regards",


CHRISMUR.

 

[Puddle]

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