PRESS RELEASE 210622
Legionella in the water in a new psychiatric building in Växjö is handled Swedish system
In mid-May, elevated levels of the legionella bacterium were discovered in the water in the new specialist psychiatric building in the Sigfrid area in Växjö. After taking traditional measures to deal with the problem, Region Kronoberg is now installing a Swedish system for hypochlorous acid in the building to get rid of the bacterium.
When elevated levels of the legionella bacterium were discovered earlier this spring, the Kronoberg Region immediately implemented measures to reduce the risk of someone contracting legionella. New shower hoses and nozzles with legionella filters were installed and all showers and taps were flushed with hot water.
The results of a new sampling in May showed legionella also in cold water pipes, which means that measures taken are not enough. Therefore, a system from Swedish Anolytech is now being installed for dosing hypochlorous acid directly into incoming water.
– During a routine sampling, elevated values were discovered and we therefore increased the sampling. It then turned out that there are problems throughout the house, including in cold water pipes. We are now trying to approach the problem with the help of a Swedish method which means that a low concentration of hypochlorous acid is continuously dosed into the water and removes viruses and bacteria, says Patrik Hjelm, property manager in the Kronoberg Region.
The company behind the new method with hypochlorous acid is called Anolytech, is Swedish and located outside Ystad. They produce AnoDes, a unique pH-optimized hypochlorous acid made from water, salt and electricity that kills and prevents the growth of bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi and spores. In addition to AnoDes handling problems with legionella, you do not have to change shower hoses / nozzles and flush thousands of liters of water through the pipes in connection with the fight against legionella, as the disinfection takes place on an ongoing basis.
The production of AnoDes takes place on site with a continuous dosing in the property’s incoming water. The system is approved according to EN standard 13623 (Quantitative suspension test for evaluation of bactericidal effect against Legionella of chemical disinfectants in water-based systems).
– The problems in Växjö show that the legionella bacterium can also be spread in cold water pipes, while new research shows that it can survive in temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius. This requires new methods to reduce the risk of spreading infection, says Stefan Fischlein, founder and CEO of Anolytech, which has developed an environmentally friendly method for disinfecting water in competition with traditional methods such as using strong chemicals, ultraviolet lamps (UV light) or filters that need to be changed regularly.
The Legionella bacterium is normally found in a small amount in ordinary water, both in watercourses, groundwater and water pipes. The number of bacteria is usually too small to cause disease, but under certain conditions the amount of bacteria can increase.
3D illustration showing legionella bacteria in water
For more information:
Stefan Fischlein, founder / CEO of Anolytech Norden AB,
0411-24 30 33
Sandra Lindström, press contact Anolytech Norden AB,
0411-24 30 39
Swedish Anolytech develops and sells since 2005 an alcohol-free and circular disinfection technology that kills bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi and spores through environmentally friendly disinfection of water, hands and surfaces. The technology was recently certified according to the standard EN 1500 (hand disinfection) and EN 14476 (chemical disinfectants and antiseptics) and already meets the standards for disinfectants. EN 13624, EN 13623, EN 13610, EN17272, EN 14476 , EN13697 and EN 13727. The customers are in Europe in agriculture, food production, hotels and real estate, the public sector and healthcare.