Considering the microbiological-hygienic aspect, along with the propagation of Legionella, the environmental bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogenic germs that can also spread in potable water installations. Pseudomonas aeruginosa either enters a house installation system via the house service connection line or is introduced during work on the installation or into a new installation as a result of contaminated components or tools and work material. Dead pipes and stagnation in the house installation promote propagation. Particularly affected are cold-water pipe systems including their draw-off points. Once it has established itself, lengthy, time-consuming and costly measures are often the only way to eliminate it. Minimisation of this risk involves avoiding errors in the planning, construction, commissioning and operation of the potable water installation in compliance with the general rules of engineering.
The bacteria can occur here locally or systemically in the cold and hot water area. For example, they can be found in decentralised water treatment systems such as water softeners, in systems for the production of dialysis water, in pipeline sections with stagnant water, but also in the area of extraction fittings and directly at taps (e.g. aerators, shower heads). The contamination can occur both in existing potable water installations as well as in installations where new measures or modifications have taken place before or shortly after commissioning of these systems.