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Designing, maintaining a decorative and safe water feature WATER WORKS s every aspect of a facility is being evaluated for ways to improve safety, reduce liability and lower operating costs, decorative water features have entered the conversation as a possible place for improvement. It is well known the innate attraction people have to water. Incorporating water features in facilities is not a new concept, but there is evidence one particular group benefits more than any of the others — healthcare. Studies are adding empirical data of positive physical relationships (pain control, faster recovery, reduced stress), as well as cost savings by including nature — water — into healing environments.1,2,3 However, with a couple of incidents involving decorative water features and Legionnaires, organizations such as the Facility Guidelines Institute are looking at recommending a restriction of water features in particular locations while developing the 2014 Guidelines for Health Care Facilities. A 26 Medical Construction & Design | November/December 2013 Adding water features while reducing liability and costs There have been great advances made in the design and implementation of water features with solutions that can fit any need or environment. Tim Keane, leading consultant and president of Legionella Risk Management Inc. has noted, "When ornamental (water) features are properly designed and provided with nominal maintenance, controlling Legionella can be done safely and easily with little to no risk." 4 First, let's define some basic groups water features fall into: Open: the water can be accessed or touched. The most common features in this group are waterwalls, fountains, waterfalls, rain curtains and ponds. Semi-closed/enclosed: Barriers are incorporated to prevent public access or contact with the water and to minimize direct interaction with the surrounding environment. Common features in this group are bubblewalls and aquariums. www.mcdmag.com