Protecting Public Health with Comprehensive Water Safety Solutions.
We are your Technical Partner Behind Confident Water Safety.
RMC partners with organizations to navigate ASHRAE 188, ASHRAE 514, AAMI ST108, and evolving regulatory requirements through proactive risk management, validation testing, long-term control strategies, and emergency response.
What Is a Water Safety Program?
A Water Safety Program (WSP) — sometimes called a Water Management Program — is a structured, documented approach to identifying, monitoring, and controlling the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens across a facility’s water systems, from cooling towers and domestic hot water to specialty systems like medical device processing. Rather than reacting to a problem after it occurs, a WSP is built to catch risk factors early through routine testing, clear control limits, and defined corrective actions.
Water safety programs are shaped by recognized standards, including ASHRAE Standard 188, ASHRAE Standard 514, and AAMI ST108, as well as state and local regulations that vary by jurisdiction — such as New York City’s Local Law 159 and New Jersey’s S2188. Because requirements differ by location, industry, and system type, an effective water safety program is never one-size-fits-all; it’s built around your facility’s specific risk profile.
Our Water Safety Approach
Why Do I Need a Water Safety Program?
Minimize Risk & Ensure Compliance
A Water Safety Program (WSP) minimizes the risk from Legionella bacteria and other water borne pathogens by providing all the components necessary to understand, detect, and remediate dangerous pathogens in water systems. A WSP requires specialized knowledge, efficient processes, consistent service, stakeholder involvement, thorough documentation, and, when necessary, remediation. RMC is equipped to provide all of these and more in a comprehensive Water Safety Program that encompasses all water systems in a facility.
Offer Protection from Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe, pneumonia-like form of Legionellosis that can cause serious and sometimes deadly complications. With heightened concern over Legionella and the potential for Legionnaires disease, facilities are turning to RMC for Water Safety Solutions that manage not only Legionella bacteria risk, but the risk from other waterborne pathogens as well.
7 Elements of a Water Management Program per ASHRAE Standard 188 & AAMI ST108
REVIEW, IMPROVE, AND REPEAT – CONTINUOUSLY
PROGRAM TEAM
Assemble a multidisciplinary team responsible for developing and implementing the water management program.
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING WATER SYSTEM
- System description
- Flow diagram
ANALYSIS OF BUILDING WATER SYSTEMS
- Identify hazardous conditions
- Identify control locations
CONTROL MEASURES
- Control limits
- Monitoring procedures
- Corrective actions
VERIFICATION
Initial and ongoing confirmation that the water management program is being implemented as designed.
VALIDATION
Confirm the program is implemented, with initial and ongoing confirmation that while the WSP is being implemented, it is also effective at controlling the hazard.
DOCUMENTATION & COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
Maintain records and communicate program information.
Program Records – Monitoring Data – Corrective Actions – Validation Results – Communication of Results
Why Choose RMC?
ASSE Certified Water Safety Experts
Nationwide Service Coverage
Proven track record with healthcare, hospitality, and industry
Advanced Technology Integration
Insights from Our Experts
Comprehensive Solutions for All Water Systems
Water Safety Programs ASHRAE 188 compliance, risk assessment, control measures, documentation.
Water Safety Programs
- Our Water Safety Programs (WSP), developed in compliance with ASHRAE Standard 188, includes a comprehensive risk assessment of all water systems within your facility. This assessment identifies high-risk areas, establishes control measures to mitigate those risks, outlines testing procedures and frequencies to ensure those measures are effective, and provides a framework for ongoing documentation and review to confirm the program’s continued success.
- The first step in a WSP is to develop a team that can include Engineering/Maintenance, a Water Safety Specialist, Infection Prevention, Risk Management and Senior Leadership to develop, manage and document the plan.
It is our intention to provide the best in class service and technology to keep your employees, guests, patients and visitors safe from waterborne pathogens.
BioAlert On-site automated Legionella testing with same-day results.
BioAlert
BioAlert enables a facility to proactively protect the community and facility occupants, minimizing the risk of litigation and protecting your brand.
The BioAlert is an on-site “laboratory” that automatically and frequently collects water samples for Legionella testing. Same-day results provide timely insight into the presence of this dangerous pathogen, allowing for remediation before it reaches hazardous levels.
Sani-Kill Monochloramine Patented domestic water disinfection technology.
Sani-Kill -Monchlormamine
- Monochloramine – the most effective supplemental disinfection for domestic water on the market.
- Specifically designed and patented for hot water systems, which are the most likely systems to grow Legionella bacteria.
- Numerous size units for all size systems. Don’t pay more than needed – no more one size fits all systems.
Point of UseFilters 0.2-micron filtration for high-risk areas.
Point of Use Filters
- Point of Use, 0.2 micron filters remove gram negative bacteria and viruses down to < 0.2 micron.
- Used in high risk areas on a regular basis; burn units, ICU, CCU, NICU, bone transplant and cancer units to minimize the risk of infection from all water borne pathogens.
- Use in cases of an outbreak to protect the community, patients and employees while remediation takes place.
Bacteria Testing HPC, Legionella, Mycobacteria, Endotoxin testing.
Bacteria Testing
Types of bacteria tests & definitions:
- HPC – heterotrophic plate counts are a measure of the total bacteria in a water system. An HPC test can be performed on-site, or for more specific, accurate results, in a laboratory.
- Legionella – Legionella is a gram negative bacteria that can cause severe pneumonia in people as they inhale the bacteria into their lungs from an aerosolized water mist. RMC provides a CDC accredited laboratory test for the various species of live Legionella bacteria.
- Mycobacteria- mycobacteria resides in water and can also cause severe respiratory illness when inhaled into the lungs. Mycobacteria tests are completed in a laboratory. This type of bacteria is resistant to high heat and chlorine remediations.
- Endotoxins – a type of toxin produced by gram negative bacteria, which is a part of the outer membrane of a bacteria. The toxin is released when bacteria is disrupted or die. They can trigger a strong immune response in humans potentially leading to fever, inflammation and even sepsis. Endotoxins are also known as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the test for this material is conducted in a laboratory setting.
Domestic Water Disinfection / Remediation New construction & outbreak response.
Domestic Water Disinfections / Remediation
- Domestic Water Disinfection is required during the new construction process and when there is a high Legionella or waterborne pathogen bacteria count that cannot be lowered by flushing.
- Bringing the chlorine levels in the domestic water system up to 200 ppm as the water is flushed through each fixture, kills bacteria in the system and ensures its safety for use.
- RMC has completed hundreds of domestic water disinfections nationwide in both new construction situations and during Legionella remediation. We have the expertise to help you ensure closure of all water systems while the disinfection takes place and the manpower to assist you in flushing all fixtures and testing for compliance.
Cooling Tower Cleaning & Disinfection Regulatory compliance and efficiency improvement.
Cooling Tower Cleaning & Disinfection
- In New York State (NYS) and New York City (NYC), cooling tower disinfections and cleanings are required twice a year to minimize Legionella and other bacteria growth.
- Cooling tower cleaning should be performed nationwide to minimize bacteria growth which helps protect the community from the risk of Legionnaire’s disease. Cleaning also helps minimize biofilm in the system, which prevents reduced heat transfer efficiency and avoids increased electricity and fuel costs.
- RMC has the experience, competitive pricing, and procedures to perform cooling tower cleanings and disinfections.
ST108 Compliance Support Medical device water quality standards.
ST 108:2023 Water for the processing of medical devices standard
- Establishes minimum requirements for the water quality used in instrument processing.
- Includes point of use filtration, cleaning, rinsing, disinfection, and sterilization of instruments.
ST108:2023 Standard addresses:
- The Responsibility for the water management program.
- Adverse effects of water impurities.
- Categories and requirements of water quality.
- Selection of water of the appropriate quality.
- Purity requirements of water used to generate steam.
- Consideration for ongoing quality improvement of the water treatment.
- Troubleshooting for water quality issues.
RMC employs the Water Safety Specialists to meet the requirements of ST108 in your facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ASHRAE Standard 188?
ASHRAE Standard 188 is a national standard that outlines the risk management process building owners and managers should follow to reduce the risk of Legionella growth in building water systems. It forms the basis of most Water Safety Programs, including the 7-element framework RMC follows for its clients.
How often should Legionella testing be performed?
Testing frequency depends on the system, the facility type, and applicable regulations — high-risk facilities like healthcare settings and those in jurisdictions with strict local laws (such as NYC’s Local Law 159) may require monthly or more frequent testing, while other facilities may test on a quarterly or semi-annual basis as part of an ongoing monitoring plan.
Why should we perform Legionella testing?
Routine Legionella testing helps healthcare facilities understand whether their water systems are effectively controlling conditions that allow Legionella to grow. Testing provides objective data to validate the effectiveness of a Water Management Program, identify potential areas of concern, and guide corrective actions before they contribute to patient risk. When used as part of a comprehensive water safety strategy, testing supports proactive risk reduction and continuous improvement.
What standards and regulations apply to Water Safety?
Water Safety Programs are shaped by industry standards, accreditation requirements, and federal, state, and local regulations. Depending on the facility and water system, requirements may include ASHRAE Standard 188, ASHRAE Standard 514, CMS, DNV, and Joint Commission requirements, and AAMI ST108. Some jurisdictions have also enacted specific legislation, including New York City Local Law 77 for cooling towers and New Jersey S2188, which establishes Water Management Program requirements for certain buildings and facilities. A comprehensive Water Safety Program helps organizations navigate these evolving requirements while proactively reducing waterborne pathogen risk.
Which industries benefit most from a Water Safety Program?
Healthcare facilities, hospitality properties, and other buildings with complex domestic water and cooling systems — where vulnerable populations or high water usage increase the stakes — tend to see the greatest benefit, though any commercial or institutional facility with a cooling tower or large water system can be at risk.
