Biofilm - Protection and food for Legionella

Biofilm is a symbiotic community of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or algae. It uses the metabolic properties and protective mechanisms of other species and serves as a food base and protective zone for Legionella and amoeba, which in turn act as hosts for Legionella.

Biofilm growth is particularly favored by stagnation, dead strands or oversized pipes and storage tanks, insufficient water exchange, too low hot water temperature <60°C or too high cold water temperature >20°C. If the drinking water is relatively hard, a mixture of hard limescale and soft Biofilm is difficult to remove in pipes.