Fort showers still not legionella-free

Tuesday 04 December 2018

Shower facilities at Fort Regent are still closed off following the discovery of dangerous bacteria at the leisure centre because the pipework "would not tolerate" the chlorination treatment to flush it out.

The Minister for Infrastructure, who is jointly responsible for the Fort, told the States Assembly yesterday that the legionella species - a bacteria that can cause illness - cannot be totally flushed out from the centre’s shower blocks due to the existing pipework being in such "poor condition" that it cannot take being chlorinated.

His announcement came following the recent discovery of a “low-risk” species of the legionella bacteria at the Fort earlier this year. 

Pictured: The showers in the gym changing rooms are still not safe for the public to use as the poor-quality pipework prevented chlorination to take place.

Responding to a question from Senator Steve Pallet, Deputy Lewis told the States Chamber that the discovery of “asbestos debris in and around” the gym changing rooms and legionella species in the shower block had led to the closure of these key areas of the centre.

Senator Pallet, who has previously expressed an interest in becoming a political ‘champion’ for the Fort, asked the Minister: “Further to the discovery of legionella at Fort Regent, will the Minister provide an update on work to re-open the changing rooms near the gym at the Fort in which legionella bacteria were detected, including a timeframe for the re-opening of these facilities?” 

Pictured: The Minister was questioned about the presence of legionella at the Fort during yesterday's States sitting.

Deputy Lewis confirmed that, from 19 November, the changing rooms near the gym had been reopened, but the showers have to stay closed as they need extensive maintenance work before the legionella species can be flushed out. The Minister told the States Chamber that, after the "low-risk" bacteria was discovered, "property maintenance then engaged with the contractor to carry out chlorination of the water system feeding these areas. The process would have addressed the problem of bacteria and allowed the facilities to reopen."

However, the Minister continued: "Prior to this work commencing, the contractor advised the existing pipework was in poor condition and would not tolerate the chlorination process. In their opinion, the entire pipework feeding these facilities should be replaced."

Pictured: Minister for Infrastructure Deputy Kevin Lewis updated the States Chamber regarding the legionella found at Fort Regent earlier this year.

Deputy Lewis was unable to give a timeframe on when the area would be reopened. He did confirm that "the pipework in the shower will be replaced", but added that the process will "take time, because we don’t want to disturb any other materials that made be sealed in the water."

The Minister also assured States Members that the Fort undergoes regular testing for the presence of Legionella, and it had only become a problem due to the area being “shut down for a period of time” when asbestos was found.