Legionella risk: Do not set the water temperature too low

At the beginning of the cold season, the AOK in Lipe warns against saving too much hot water due to Legionella bacteria.

The health insurance company advises against setting the hot water heating system to a temperature below 60 degrees.

At least 60 degrees

The background is that Legionella can reproduce in water at temperatures up to 45 degrees.

Bacteria can cause serious and, in the worst cases, fatal illnesses.

According to AOK, you're on the safe side with a hot water temperature of 60 degrees.

In some cases, the disease is fatal

Legionella is a bacterium that lives in water and reproduces mainly at temperatures between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius.

It can cause flu-like symptoms or a type of pneumonia.

In about five to nine percent of cases, the infection is fatal, the AOK warns.

Infection by inhalation of water droplets

Hot water and air conditioning systems, swimming pools and whirlpools are particularly susceptible to colonization by Legionella bacteria and can become a source of infection, according to the AOK.

Bacteria enter the lungs by inhaling the smallest drops of water, for example when showering.

The bacteria are not transmitted from person to person, so those infected are not contagious.