When Facilities modifies the hospital’s water system, SPD often feels the impact first. A tweak meant to control Legionella or protect plumbing can silently disrupt washers, RO membranes, and sterilizers.
“Sometimes Facilities adds a biocide or changes disinfectants to control Legionella, but the same chemicals can exhaust the carbon filters that protect RO membranes,” said Len Sparks, COO of VERDA. “That chlorine or chloramine gets downstream and starts attacking equipment.”
Continuous disinfection or copper-silver ionization systems are common, but these can spike disinfectant or metal levels beyond what SPD pretreatment can remove. Sparks recalled hospitals where chloramine conversions or high-copper dosing caused staining, pitting, and premature RO failure.
Why AAMI ST108 Makes This a Shared Responsibility
ANSI/AAMI ST108 defines Utility Water as the minimum quality needed for flushing, washing, and rinsing medical devices—much stricter than municipal tap water. Yet most SPDs depend on building-wide plumbing for their feedwater. Without coordination, Facilities’ adjustments can easily push that water out of spec.
“Utilities and SPD leaders have to talk to each other,” Sparks emphasized. “If Facilities boosts chlorine levels, SPD needs to know immediately. It’s all one water system, and what happens upstream decides whether you stay compliant.”
Bridging the Gap
Create a Water Management Team with SPD, Facilities, and Infection Prevention.
Share testing data—pH, hardness, and disinfectant levels—at least monthly.
Document every change in treatment chemistry, softener regeneration, or pressure controls.
When SPDs and Facilities collaborate under AAMI ST108, water stops being a mystery variable and becomes a controlled process that protects both equipment and patients.
Call to Action
Care to know more about this and related topics?
Watch the full Belimed + VERDA webinar “Enhancing Facility Water: Implementing AAMI ST108 in Practice” (Episode 5) to hear real case studies and proven solutions.
If you’re looking for help, contact us.