FAQ

Q1. Who is Stravica Ltd?

Stravica Ltd is a UK water hygiene and Legionella control specialist. We provide Legionella risk assessments, water hygiene monitoring, Legionella and water sampling, water tank cleaning and disinfection, water system remedial works and planned water hygiene maintenance. We help public and private sector organisations keep their water systems safe, compliant and well managed.

Q2. Where does Stravica operate?

We operate nationwide across England, Scotland and Wales. Our head office manages contracts, programmes, compliance records and client reporting, and our specialist operatives deliver services directly on site.

Q3. Who are your clients?

We work with housing providers, NHS and healthcare organisations, care homes, schools, colleges and universities, local authorities, transport operators and commercial property owners. Every client receives a programme tailored to their buildings, their occupants and their legal duties.

Q4. What makes Stravica different?

Stravica combines specialist water hygiene expertise with a governance-led approach. Every reading is recorded as found, every adverse result is escalated without delay, and every recommendation is based on evidence. You have a single point of accountability, clear reporting and complete transparency.

Q5. What is Legionella and why does it matter?

Legionella bacteria multiply in water between 20°C and 45°C, particularly where water stagnates or where scale and sediment build up. People can become infected by breathing in fine droplets from showers, taps and spray outlets. Legionnaires' disease is a serious and potentially fatal pneumonia, and older people and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

Q6. Am I legally required to manage Legionella risk?

Yes. If you are an employer, landlord or person in control of premises, you are the Duty Holder. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8, you must identify and control the risk from Legionella in your water systems.

Q7. Do I need a Legionella certificate?

No. There is no such thing as a legal Legionella certificate. The law requires a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, a written scheme of control, and records showing that your control measures are being carried out.

Q8. How do I know if my building needs a Legionella risk assessment?

Any workplace or rented premises with a water system that could create a risk needs assessing. This includes buildings with stored water, hot water systems, showers, spray taps or other outlets that create droplets. This covers almost all non-domestic buildings and residential properties that are let.

Q9. How often should my risk assessment be reviewed?

Your risk assessment must be reviewed regularly and whenever it may no longer be valid. Many organisations review at least every two years as good practice. A review is needed sooner if your water system or the use of your building changes, sampling results are adverse, remedial works are completed, your Responsible Person changes, or a case of Legionnaires' disease is linked to your premises.

Q10. What are the Duty Holder and the Responsible Person?

The Duty Holder holds legal responsibility for managing Legionella risk. They appoint a Responsible Person to manage day-to-day control. We support both, and make sure they understand exactly what the law requires of them.

Q11. What is included in a Legionella risk assessment?

A full survey of your water systems to BS 8580-1, an asset register, up-to-date schematic drawings, temperature measurements, tank inspections, a review of your management arrangements, and an assessment of who uses your building. You receive a plain-English report with risk-rated findings and prioritised recommendations.

Q12. How often does my water need to be monitored?

It depends on your systems and your risk assessment. Typically:

• Sentinel outlets and calorifiers are checked monthly.
• Cold water storage temperatures are checked every six months.
• Tanks are inspected annually.
• Showers are cleaned and descaled quarterly.
• Little-used outlets are flushed weekly.

Q13. Do I need Legionella testing?

Not always. HSE guidance recommends sampling where temperatures or biocide levels are not consistently achieved, in systems treated with biocides, in healthcare and other settings with vulnerable occupants, after disinfection or remedial works, and where an outbreak is suspected. We will always explain whether sampling is needed and why.

Q14. What happens if Legionella is found?

We report every result exactly as it comes from the laboratory, with a clear explanation and recommended actions. Results above 1,000 cfu/l are phoned through the same day and confirmed in writing within 24 hours. Actions may include resampling, disinfection, restricting outlets or fitting point-of-use filters.

Q15. How often should water tanks be cleaned and disinfected?

Cold water storage tanks should be inspected at least once a year. They should be cleaned and disinfected whenever an inspection finds sediment, debris, vermin or contamination, when sampling shows significant bacterial growth, after installation or modification, or after a long period without use.

Q16. What is a dead leg and why should it be removed?

A dead leg is a section of pipework where water no longer flows, often left behind when an outlet or appliance is removed. Stagnant water in a dead leg allows Legionella to grow and can contaminate the wider system. Removing dead legs back to the live pipework removes the risk permanently and ends the need for weekly flushing.

Q17. Will my water supply be interrupted during work?

Some work, such as tank cleaning and disinfection, needs a temporary interruption. Residents and occupants receive advance notice, alternative supplies are arranged for vulnerable people and critical services, and water is restored only once it has been flushed and verified as safe.

Q18. Do you work in hospitals and healthcare settings?

Yes. In healthcare premises, we work to HTM 04-01 and your Water Safety Plan, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa risk assessment and sampling in augmented care units. Our operatives follow your infection prevention and control requirements.

Q19. Can you help when our building closes or reopens?

Yes. Legionella risk rises when buildings are empty or lightly used, such as during school holidays, in vacant properties or during office closures. We maintain flushing and temperature control during closures, and support safe reoccupation with system flushing, checks and sampling where needed.

Q20. Do you provide emergency call-outs?

Yes. Emergency response, including urgent disinfection or sampling after an adverse result, is available by agreement, with response times set out in your contract. Contact us to discuss the service levels your organisation needs.

Q21. Which standards do you work to?

Our services follow HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8, HSG274, BS 8580-1 for risk assessments, BS 7592 for sampling, BS 8558 and BS EN 806 for water systems, and HTM 04-01 in healthcare. Our wider operations comply with health and safety, environmental, data protection, equality, modern slavery and anti-bribery legislation.

Q22. Do you provide RAMS and compliance documentation?

Yes. Every job is supported by site-specific, unredacted Risk Assessments and Method Statements and COSHH assessments, and is fully documented. You receive disinfection certificates with chlorine verification results, laboratory certificates for sampling, before-and-after photographs, and a complete digital logbook.

Q23. Which laboratories do you use?

All samples are analysed by laboratories accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025, whose accreditation covers the specific test methods used.

Q24. Are your operatives qualified and DBS checked?

Yes. Every operative, sampler and risk assessor is named, vetted and verified before attending your sites, with accredited training appropriate to their role. Operatives working in homes hold at least a basic DBS check. Those working in schools, care homes, supported housing and healthcare premises hold an enhanced DBS check, or the level your organisation requires.

Q25. Does Stravica hold insurance cover?

Yes. Stravica Ltd holds Employers' Liability, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. Certificates are available on request.

Q26. How do you protect personal data?

We handle all personal data in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ZC189105). Residents' details, vulnerability information and access codes are protected with strict controls.

Q27. How can I request a quotation?

Email info@stravica.uk, or use the contact form on our website. Please include brief details of your sites, the services you need and your preferred timescales. We will respond within one working day to arrange a quotation or site visit.

Q28. How quickly can you mobilise a new contract?

Most monitoring and maintenance contracts can be mobilised within 10 to 15 working days of agreement. Larger estates follow a phased mobilisation plan. Before services start, we gather your existing records, carry out a gap analysis against HSE requirements and agree a clear plan with you.

Q29. Can you take over from our current provider?

Yes. We manage the handover carefully so that there are no gaps in monitoring or control. Existing risk assessments, logbooks and outstanding actions are reviewed, and any gaps are reported to you with a prioritised plan to address them.

Q30. Do you use subcontractors?

Yes. Stravica manages every contract and remains fully accountable to you. Work on site is delivered by vetted specialist water hygiene organisations that are members of the Legionella Control Association. Every delivery partner is bound by our policies and subject to monthly performance reviews, data checks and unannounced site audits.

Q31. How do you ensure service quality?

Each contract has a quality plan, agreed KPIs and a single point of contact. We check monitoring data for accuracy, carry out unannounced spot checks, technically review risk assessments and reconcile every sample with a laboratory result. You receive monthly reports and regular contract reviews.

Q32. Do I have to use Stravica for remedial works?

No. Remedial recommendations are quoted separately, and you are always free to use any competent contractor. Our recommendations are based solely on the evidence found on site.

Q33. Can you train our staff?

Yes. We can arrange Legionella awareness training, Responsible Person training through accredited providers, and practical training for staff who carry out flushing or simple checks.

Q34. Does Stravica have policies on ethical working?

Yes. Our full set of policies is available on our Policies page, covering:

• Health and Safety
• Legionella Management
• Sampling
• Quality
• Environment
• Data Protection
• Safeguarding
• Equality
• Modern Slavery
• Anti-Bribery
• Whistleblowing
• Competence
• Business Continuity

Every delivery partner is contractually bound by them.

Q35. What is Stravica's approach to sustainability?

We protect the environment as well as public health. Chlorinated water is always neutralised and tested before discharge, water use is kept to what hygiene requires, waste is managed responsibly, and our risk assessments identify ways to cut water and energy use without compromising control. We are committed to reaching net zero by 2045.

Q36. How can I report a concern or complaint?

Complaints can be sent to info@stravica.uk. They are acknowledged within two working days and answered in full within 10 working days. Safety, ethical or integrity concerns can be raised confidentially, or anonymously, under our Whistleblowing Policy by emailing info@stravica.uk with the subject line "Confidential - Speak Up".