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Monitor and report Legionella in drinking water

Legionellen im Trinkwasser überwachen und melden
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Operators of public or commercial large-scale systems for heating drinking water must regularly carry out an examination of the drinking water. This applies, for example, to rental apartment buildings and facilities with many visitors. Commercial systems must be examined every three years. An example of a commercial system is a rental apartment building. Public systems must usually be examined every year. An example of a public system is a Kindertagesstätte (day care centre). An examination must be carried out by an approved testing body (see "Further information") and according to specific guidelines. The testing body must report any detection of Legionella to the Gesundheitsamt (public health office). Operators must immediately carry out certain measures if more than 100 colony-forming units of Legionella per 100ml have been detected. They must protect and inform consumers. They must search for the causes and have a risk assessment carried out. This risk assessment must be carried out by a specialist in accordance with the recommendations of the Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency). Examination results must be documented in writing and kept for ten years. The Gesundheitsamt monitors the implementation of the measures.

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• Persons subject to the testing obligation This applies to business operators or other holders of a Trinkwasserinstallation (drinking water installation), • who operate a large-scale drinking water heating system, and • who supply drinking water in the course of a commercial or public activity, and • who provide showers or similar facilities in which the drinking water is dispersed into a fine mist. Large-scale drinking water heating systems are systems with a storage volume of more than 400 litres and/or 3 litres in each pipe between the outlet of the water heater and the point of use. (The circulation pipe is not taken into account!) A commercial activity is an activity carried out for profit in which drinking water is deliberately supplied. • A test must be carried out by an approved testing body (laboratory) www.berlin.de/lageso/_assets/gesundheit/publikationen/trinkw

Documents you need

• No documents required.

Fees

The notification is free of charge. The microbiological examination, the preparation of the risk assessment (Gefährdungsanalyse) and any necessary remediation measures involve costs for the business operator or other owner.

Legal basis

• Trinkwasserverordnung (TrinkwV) [Drinking Water Ordinance] § 31 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/trinkwv_2023/__31.html • Trinkwasserverordnung (TrinkwV) § 53 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/trinkwv_2023/__53.html • Trinkwasserverordnung (TrinkwV) § 51 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/trinkwv_2023/__51.html

Further information

• Testing bodies approved under the Trinkwasserverordnung (Drinking Water Ordinance) in the State of Berlin (LaGeSo, State Office for Health and Social Affairs) www.berlin.de/lageso/gesundheit/gesundheitsschutz/trinkwasse • Information on Legionella from the Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e. V. (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) www.dvgw.de/themen/wasser/wasserqualitaet/legionellen/ • Certified experts trained by the Innung SHK Berlin (Berlin Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning Trade Guild) www.shk-berlin.de/verbraucher/handwerkersuche/ • Website of the Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (State Office for Health and Social Affairs) on Legionella in domestic water installations www.berlin.de/lageso/gesundheit/gesundheitsschutz/trinkwasse

Who is responsible

Responsible is the Gesundheitsamt (health office) in the district where the large-scale drinking water heating installation is located.

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 328954 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/328954/