Tjongerschans Hospital

Tjongerschans Hospital, a renowned healthcare provider in the Netherlands, places high priority on the health and safety of its patients and staff. However, in 2017, they faced a persistent issue: Legionella bacteria contaminating their tap water system. This posed a significant health risk, as Legionella can cause Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Traditional thermal control methods, which involve raising water temperatures to kill bacteria, proved ineffective in eliminating Legionella from the hospital's complex water infrastructure.

The hospital faced a dual challenge. First, the presence of Legionella in the water system threatened the health of patients and staff, particularly those with weakened immune systems, who are especially vulnerable in a hospital setting. Second, the ineffectiveness of traditional thermal management methods meant the hospital needed a more sustainable and reliable solution for long-term bacterial control.

Effectively removing legionella

Tjongerschans Hospital sought a solution that would effectively remove Legionella from their water system and ensure long-term patient safety. Ideally, this solution would be sustainable and reduce reliance on high water temperatures, which can be costly in terms of energy consumption.

To address these challenges, the hospital partnered with Holland Water, a leader in innovative water treatment solutions. Holland Water recommended the installation of the HW Bifipro® system, an advanced technology that uses copper-silver ionization, a safe and proven method for controlling Legionella growth in water systems. The system releases controlled doses of copper and silver ions into the water, effectively eliminating Legionella without the need for excessive heat.

Positive results

The implementation of the HW Bifipro® system at Tjongerschans Hospital delivered demonstrably positive results. Within six months, the system successfully eradicated Legionella from the hospital's water system, significantly reducing the risk of infection for both patients and staff.

In addition to solving the Legionella issue, the HW Bifipro® system provided an unexpected benefit. The copper-silver ionization process also effectively combats other harmful pathogens present in the water, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas spp. This additional layer of protection further enhances the overall safety of the hospital’s water system.

Beyond the immediate benefits, the HW Bifipro® system also offers the potential for future energy savings. Once the hospital maintains a Legionella-free record, they can reduce the temperature of the hot water in the system. This temperature reduction would result in significant cost savings on energy consumption.