Latest news on Sterotap, Aquachem and Legionnaires' Disease
AquaChem to showcase Ster-O-Tap at FMI Conference & Exhibition
AquaChem will be exhibiting at Facilities Management Ireland Conference & Exhibition to be held in the Main Hall RDS Dublin on 23rd and 24th March. We will be launching some exciting new products and services so come and meet the team at stand C22.
AquaChem to supply Ster-O-Tap showerheads as part of water treatment contracts
We are now offering the supply of our Ster-O-Tap showerheads including replacement filters as part of our water treatment contracts to the Building Services / Facilities Management market.
Along with the routine cleaning and disinfection of water tanks and down services the shower heads will add an extra layer of protection from the Legionella bacteria, to those who use the showers in their place of work.
Press Releases
AquaChem Ster-O-Tap ®- New Cost Effective Treatment for Legionnaires' Disease
July 14th, 2008
The recent hospitalisation of two workers with Legionnaires' disease has brought the dangers of water based infection to light. In fact, between 2000 and 2007, there have been 67 cases reported in Ireland, resulting in five deaths. In 2007 alone there were 16 reported cases in Ireland. This however if not the complete story as the National Disease Surveillance Centre (part of the HSE) has reported that "Legionnaires' disease is under diagnosed and under reported" in Ireland.
The bacterium (called Legionella pneumophila) is a very common organism that can grow in water systems operating mainly between 20°C and 60°C. It is contracted by breathing in contaminated vapour containing the Legionella pneumophila bacteria. Legionnaires' disease affects the lungs with symptoms varying from fever in its mild form to a severe form of pneumonia, and can be fatal in 10 to 15% of cases. Some patients also experience muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of coordination (ataxia), and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting.
While the Legionnella bacteria can originate from any stagnant water environment, it is frequently found in the shower plumbing of buildings including hotels, hospitals, offices, schools, government buildings and manufacturing plants. While many water treatment systems exist on the market today none specifically target the area where the greatest risk of contamination exists: showering!
- Ster-O-Tap® is a shower head with an integrated filter which prevents the risk of Legionnaires disease at the point of use.
- While the idea of water filters has been around for a while Ster-O-Tap® is the first product which will successfully remove 99.999% of all bacteria and still cope with the high flow rates typical of a domestic water show.
- The low pressure membrane technology used in Ster-O-Tap® is in fact patented and achieves a microfiltration of 0.15 microns (0.00015mm).
The product which has just been introduced to the Irish market by AquaChem , one of the largest providers of water treatment services in Ireland. It was developed in conjunction with Belgian company, Primewater, after similar technology was used in the medical market for the filtration of blood cells.
Speaking on behalf of AquaChem, Kieran Coleman (MD) says "one of the main advantages of Ster-O-Tap® is that fact that it will fit most shower types currently available in the market today. At a cost of ¬ 80.00 per shower head, it is a solution which can quickly be implemented and in comparison to other water treatment options is very affordable. In particular we see a large potential for this product in the hotel, leisure and healthcare sectors".
