HSE HSG274 Part 2 requires cold water storage tanks (CWSTs) to be inspected annually. The inspection must confirm tank integrity, cleanliness, insulation, inlet and outlet valve function, and the absence of contamination or vermin access. Tanks that fail inspection must be cleaned or replaced before returning to service.
Why this matters
A contaminated cold water storage tank is a direct Legionella risk cold water below 20C inhibits growth, but a tank that has warmed due to missing insulation or proximity to heat sources creates ideal conditions. Many care homes have tanks that have not been physically inspected in years, relying on temperature monitoring alone.
What to do
- 1Confirm your CWST has been physically inspected within the last 12 months temperature monitoring is not a substitute for inspection.
- 2The inspection must be carried out with the tank emptied or near-empty: check the interior for sediment, biofilm, debris, or any sign of vermin access.
- 3Confirm insulation is intact on the tank and all associated pipework any section where cold pipes are exposed to warm plant room air is a risk zone.
- 4Retain the inspection report in your L8 water safety file and note the next due date in your compliance calendar.
Primary source
HSE HSG274 Part 2 Cold Water Systems
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