Aqualytix, specialists in water treatment and Legionella control, has many customers in the education sector who rely on our expertise to educate them about water hygiene to keep their schools, colleges, and universities compliant and safe.
One such academic institution is Uppingham School, a leading British independent boarding school for students aged 13 to 18.
In 2024, our duties at the school site increased from managing around 700 water assets to almost 4,000. These include cold water storage tanks and thermostatic mixing valves for example.
Mel Doran, Business Development Manager at Aqualytix, said, “We were thrilled to be awarded additional responsibilities by a school so committed to water hygiene safety and compliance.
“Our typical duties involve inspecting and monitoring water assets, temperature testing, cleaning and disinfecting, legionella sampling, and recommending and instigating any remedial actions that need to be taken.”
Harnessing technology as an educational aid
Aqualytix is a paperless business. We use software that provides customers with real-time information about the status of their water assets through one application. This allows them to make informed, data-based decisions and reassures them that they’re maintaining compliance and safeguarding the health of their building users.
Richard Godfrey, Head of Mechanical and Electrical Services at Uppingham School, said: “We’ve around 50 buildings on this site alone, and some of them date back to the 1500s. So you can imagine how big a job it is to monitor and maintain all our water assets, some of which are ageing.
“But Mel and the team have made my life much easier. No more paper compliance logs! Instead, I can see all our water assets and their compliance status with just one click or swipe. I can also see what Mel’s team has done to service or fix them and when.
“This gives me much more control and reassures my stakeholders that we’re compliant and our staff and pupils are safe. I’d definitely award them with an A*!”
Flexibly accommodating school timetables
With extensive experience in the education sector, the Aqualytix team is accustomed to working around term timetables.
Mel explained: “If you’re working in schools and colleges, you’ve got to be flexible and work when it’s safe to do so. The staff and students, along with our people, are a priority.
“Uppingham School is a boarding school with a sports hall open until 10 pm. So, when cleaning and disinfecting their water tanks, the water must be turned off, and the work must be done through the night.”
More good reports
2024 also marked a new water hygiene contract with another academic institution: Dearne Valley College in South Yorkshire.
Mel added: “The college is part of the RNN Group, and we already look after their Worksop and Rotherham sites. So we’re delighted to be working with another – because we know first-hand how they place the safety and well-being of their students and staff at the forefront of all their operations.”
Water hygiene education through training
Aqualytix is also one of the UK’s leading Legionella training course providers.
Mel concluded: “We not only work in the education sector but also provide education and training ourselves. We offer a range of training packages that help organisations meet their legal obligations concerning Legionella control and the management of water systems.
For more information about how we can help safeguard the staff and students at your academic institution, please visit https://www.stservices.co.uk/water-hygiene/
