Revolutionary VAF automatic self-cleaning filters

Changes to Victorian legislation regarding cooling towers

On 1 January 2010, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 will come into effect, resulting in a number of changes with regard to the registration and management of cooling tower systems in Victoria.

The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 will supersede the Health Act 1958. The proposed Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 will replace the ten sets of regulations made under the Health Act 1958, including the Health (Legionella) Regulations 2001.

A summary of the changes are presented below:

Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008

When the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 commences on 1 January 2010:

  • The Department of Health (formerly part of the Department of Human Services) will take over the management of the register of cooling tower systems from the Building Commission. Risk management plans will need to incorporate the actions required to be taken in response to unsatisfactory test results.
  • A new risk management plan template will be incorporated in a revised “A Guide to Developing Risk Management Plans for Cooling Tower Systems”

Proposed Public Health & Wellbeing Regulations

The proposed changes will mean:

  • The ‘trigger’ for remedial action following a ‘high’ Heterotrophic Colony Count (HCC) will increase from 100,000 cfu/ml to 200,000 cfu/ml;
  • Increased flexibility following the first ‘high’ HCC result if the system is ‘slug dosed’ immediately after the sample is taken. 
  • The response to a second consecutive HCC result above 200,000 cfu/ml will change to allow an online disinfection rather than the current requirement to disinfect, clean & re-disinfect;
  • There must be a minimum of quarterly testing for Legionella;
  • Cooling tower systems will have to be continuously treated with a bio-dispersant;
  • Records of maintenance and testing will still be required to be kept, produced upon request of an authorised officer but will not need to be kept on site.

The Act, the proposed Regulations and the Regulatory Impact Statement can be downloaded for viewing from the Department of Health website at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/phwa/