<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of hot water between eleven hotels in the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia that are open year round and 10 summer season hotels and retirement homes with irregular use of water. We took 122 samples between May and December 2009. Water temperature and free residual chlorine were measured <italic>in situ.</italic> Physical and chemical analysis included pH, electrical conductivity, and concentrations of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium that were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the <italic>Legionella</italic> species were determined using a cultivation method on buffered charcoal yeast extract agar.Differences in metal concentrations between the seasonal and year-round accommodation facilities were negligible, save for zinc that was higher in year-round (0.341 mg L-1) than in seasonal facilities (0.130 mg L-1).Samples from all year-round and six summer season hotels were negative to the <italic>Legionella</italic> species, but four seasonal facilities turned up with positive samples to <italic>Legionella pneumophila.</italic>Our study has demonstrated that water quality differs between year-round and seasonal accommodation facilities. These findings suggest that metal plumbing components and associated corrosion products are important factors in the survival and growth of <italic>Legionella</italic> species in water distribution systems.</abstract>

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of hot water between eleven hotels in the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia that are open year round and 10 summer season hotels and retirement homes with irregular use of water. We took 122 samples between May and December 2009. Water temperature and free residual chlorine were measured in situ. Physical and chemical analysis included pH, electrical conductivity, and concentrations of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium that were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the Legionella species were determined using a cultivation method on buffered charcoal yeast extract agar.Differences in metal concentrations between the seasonal and year-round accommodation facilities were negligible, save for zinc that was higher in year-round (0.341 mg L-1) than in seasonal facilities (0.130 mg L-1).Samples from all year-round and six summer season hotels were negative to the Legionella species, but four seasonal facilities turned up with positive samples to Legionella pneumophila.Our study has demonstrated that water quality differs between year-round and seasonal accommodation facilities. These findings suggest that metal plumbing components and associated corrosion products are important factors in the survival and growth of Legionella species in water distribution systems.

<italic>Legionella</italic> Species in Year-Round <italic>vs.</italic> Seasonal Accommodation Water Supply Systems

Public Health Institute of Split, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

 Species in Year-Round  Seasonal Accommodation Water Supply Systems

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of hot water between eleven hotels in the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia that are open year round and 10...

Legionella Species in Year-Round vs. Seasonal Accommodation Water Supply Systems

Published Online: Dec 25, 2011

Page range: 335 - 340

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-62-2011-2111

Keywords
atomska apsorpcijska spektrofotometrija, biofilm, spp., metali u vodi

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