How Billi Manufacturing Helps Safeguard Against Legionella

In facilities where health and safety are essential, such as hospitals, aged care, corporate offices, and public buildings, the way drinking water is delivered can be as important as the water itself. Improperly designed or poorly maintained systems can quietly harbour conditions suitable for the growth of Legionella bacteria. This pathogen thrives in warm, stagnant environments and has been linked to serious outbreaks, including recent cases in Victoria (ABC News) and New South Wales (NSW Health).

Billi have spent more than 30 years leading the way in instant filtered water innovation. Manufactured in Melbourne, our underbench systems offer boiling, chilled, sparkling, and still filtered water, but what sets us apart is our holistic approach to water safety. Through advanced water-cooled technology, certified manufacturing, and in-use hygiene protocols, Billi systems are built to help reduce the risk of Legionella from day one.

Learn how our design and process decisions offer health-first water delivery that supports compliance, efficiency, and peace of mind for high-responsibility environments.

Growing concern for commercial and care-based settings

In August 2024, an outbreak in Victoria saw over 80 confirmed cases and four fatalities (ABC News). By March 2025, New South Wales recorded 12 more infections, including one death (NSW Health). These events have reinforced the risks posed by seemingly low-contact building systems like water coolers and boiling water units.

Workplaces, hospitals, aged care facilities and schools, all of which serve vulnerable populations, must approach drinking water systems as potential sources of harm unless designed and maintained to reduce waterborne pathogens.

Hygiene begins before installation with factory-level protection

All Billi units are manufactured in Melbourne, where strict hygiene protocols form part of the assembly and testing process. Every system is flushed with UVC-treated water and then purged with nitrogen gas, drying the interior completely and sanitising it prior to shipment. This uncommon step means no residual moisture remains in the system, significantly lowering the chance of microbial growth before installation.

This attention to detail at the manufacturing stage reflects our understanding that prevention starts with production, not just maintenance.

Maintenance matters: BilliCare service and filter plans

Even with world-class design, ongoing care is essential to safeguard against Legionella. Our BilliCare Gold and Silver Service Plans provide routine servicing and genuine Billi filter replacements, carried out by accredited technicians. Filters include a digital lockout feature that prevents reused or unauthorised components, preserving the integrity of the system and protecting water quality.

For high-risk environments like hospitals and aged care centres, the combination of smart servicing and engineered hygiene features offers unmatched peace of mind. Discover the additional Features & Benefits of Billi systems.

Choose a system built with safety at its core

Protecting your site from Legionella isn’t about fixing problems after they occur. It’s about choosing a system that’s designed to prevent them. Billi’s approach to water safety is across every phase, from design and manufacturing to installation and daily operation.

Unlike many systems that address hygiene through add-ons or workarounds, Billi’s water-cooled units and servicing plans form an integrated defence against microbial risk. And because we control our manufacturing here in Australia, we’re able to maintain quality, compliance, and responsiveness in ways that imported systems simply can’t match.

Whether you’re designing a new facility or upgrading an existing one, now is the time to think beyond convenience, and toward long-term responsibility.

Contact the experts at Billi for specification support or system guidance.

Or View our Range of water-cooled, underbench systems suitable for high-risk environments.