Hand hygiene: Water quality as an underestimated factor

Good hand hygiene, especially proper handwashing, is one of the most effective measures to prevent infections.

This applies both in everyday life and in sensitive environments such as hospitals, care facilities, or laboratories. When done correctly, hand hygiene reliably prevents the spread of pathogens.

However, one key aspect is often overlooked: the quality of the water used.

Proper handwashing

Guidance on proper handwashing is provided by several institutions – for example, the National Health Service (NHS), and, regarding general topics on hand hygiene, the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc).

What’s often missing: A focus on water quality

Hand hygiene can only be effective if the water used is hygienically safe.

If microbiologically contaminated water is used for washing, pathogens are transferred directly onto the skin – even when every step of handwashing is performed correctly.

In hygiene-critical environments, drinking water hygiene at outlets such as washbasins should be an integral part of every hygiene strategy.

Water as a hygiene risk

Drinking water in the UK is subject to strict legal requirements. The quality standards are defined in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations.

Public water supplies are tightly controlled, yet microorganisms can occasionally enter the system even before the building connection – for example, after pipe bursts, construction work, or extreme weather events. If these microorganisms go unnoticed and enter the building installation, the risk of contamination up to the point of use increases.

Between the building connection and the outlet, additional hygiene issues such as stagnation or temperature fluctuations can occur. Inside conduits, fittings, and aerators, biofilm can form under certain conditions, providing an ideal breeding ground for bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa orLegionella pneumophila. These bacteria are often found in stagnant water, dead legs, or rarely used outlets.

During handwashing, bacteria and other microorganisms may come into contact with the skin or be inhaled through aerosols. While this is usually harmless for healthy individuals, it poses a risk for immunocompromised patients.

Drinking water hygiene – prevention is everything

Maintaining hygienically safe drinking water starts with proper system design and installation, correct operation, and a proactive hygiene concept.

Whether during new installations, refurbishments, remediation, or after an outbreak – securing water quality protects the entire hygiene chain, from the very first touch!

— Holger Eggert, Head of Product Management and Market Development, Aqua free Germany

Where structural or organisational measures are not sufficient, additional protective measures may be required.

Additional protection through certified water filters

Point-of-use water filters are an effective immediate measure in the event of microbial contamination – for example, with Pseudomonas or Legionella. They are also suitable for the preventive protection of sensitive outlets, especially in facilities with vulnerable patient groups.

The filters reliably retain bacteria – even in already contaminated conduits – and can be quickly retrofitted without structural changes.

However, eliminating the root cause of microbial contamination must always remain the top priority!

For medical environments, our reusable sterile filters provide a reliable and cost-effective long-term solution to safeguard critical outlets.

Siphons as a source of infection

Siphons (or traps) can also pose a hygiene risk.

Their purpose is to prevent odours and air from the wastewater system from entering indoor air. However, temperatures between 20 °C and 40 °C, combined with nutrients and oxygen, provide ideal conditions for biofilm formation inside conventional siphons – allowing bacteria to proliferate within the wastewater area.

Waterborne microorganisms from wastewater systems can then enter the wash area through backflow aerosols from the drain. Technical solutions are available to minimise this risk – such as specialised hygienic siphons like the Aqua free HygieneSiphon.