Protecting Lives with Every Drop: The Power of Chemstar WATER in Healthcare
Water quality is a non-negotiable pillar of patient safety in healthcare environments. Chemstar WATER stands as the trusted partner for hospitals, medical centers, senior care facilities, and clinics, delivering specialized water treatment solutions that mitigate risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide peace of mind to facility managers and healthcare professionals alike
Case Study
MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
When MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center embarked on a $25 million expansion, ensuring water safety in new plumbing systems was paramount. Chemstar WATER was chosen to handle:
High-Velocity Flushing: Cleared debris and construction residues from new pipes.
Sterilization: Disinfected potable water lines to eliminate bacteria, chlorination and dechlorination.
Water Testing: Confirmed compliance with CMS and ASHRAE 188 before patient occupancy. Tested for Legionella and potable water requirements.
Microbial Validation: Final water sampling ensured hospital-grade safety standards were met.
Major Hospital Ensures Water Safety with Chemstar Water Treatment
Why Water Treatment Solutions for Healthcare Facilities are Critical
Healthcare facilities are uniquely vulnerable to waterborne pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila, which can cause severe illness—especially among immunocompromised patients, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions. Complex potable and HVAC water systems, coupled with the presence of at-risk populations, increase the likelihood of outbreaks and demand a higher standard of vigilance.
Key Risks in Healthcare Water Systems
-
Legionella Outbreaks: Hospitals and long-term care facilities are high-risk environments for Legionnaires’ Disease, with outbreaks often traced to contaminated cooling towers, potable water systems, and showers.
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs): Instrument corrosion and damage from hard water and other contaminants, and sterilization failures caused by residual contaminants. Compliance standards such as ST108.
-
Regulatory Scrutiny: Compliance with standards such as ASHRAE 188, CDC guidelines, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is essential for licensing and patient safety.
-
Operational Disruption: Water system failures or contamination can force unit closures, delay new construction, and put patient care at risk.
Chemstar WATER: The Healthcare Water Treatment Leader
Chemstar WATER brings over 25 years of experience in protecting healthcare facilities from waterborne threats. Our comprehensive services are tailored to the unique needs of hospitals, critical care centers, and senior living communities, ensuring the highest level of safety and operational continuity.
Our Core Healthcare Water Treatment Services
COOLING TOWER TREATMENT
Cooling Tower Treatment: Prevents scale, corrosion, and microbial growth in HVAC systems, safeguarding air quality and system efficiency. Cooling towers are also a possible source for Legionella contamination. Thus extra care is needed to ensure the systems is monitored mechanically, operationally and chemically.
POTABLE WATER TREATMENT
Potable Water Treatment: Maintains safe drinking water and supports infection control by eliminating harmful bacteria and contaminants through supporting mechanically, operationally and chemically. Potable water, especially the hot water loops have been the primary source for Legionella contamination.
SECONDARY DISINFECTION
Secondary Disinfection: Adds an extra layer of protection for potable water systems by utilizing Chloramines, especially during construction, renovation, or after contamination events.
BOILER WATER TREATMENT
Boiler Water Treatment: Protects steam and hot water systems from scale and corrosion, ensuring reliable sterilization and heating.
WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Water Management Program (WMP) Development: Designs and implements robust, facility-specific programs for Legionella risk mitigation, meeting or exceeding Joint Commission, CDC, and ASHRAE 188 requirements.
TESTING & MONITORING
Continuous Testing & Monitoring: Regular sampling, risk assessment, and rapid response ensure ongoing compliance and early detection of potential hazards.
ICE MACHINE CLEANING
ICE MACHINE CLEANING: Ice plays a vital role in healthcare facilities, serving purposes such as patient consumption, specimen storage, and equipment cooling. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified ice machines as common sources for Legionella and other harmful pathogens. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that ice remains purified—helping to safeguard medical devices, chemical solutions, specimens, and ultimately, patient health. With Chemstar WATER’s advanced solutions, you can maintain the highest standards of ice purity and safety in your facility.
Meeting and Exceeding Regulatory Standards
Chemstar WATER ensures your facility is always audit-ready and compliant with the latest healthcare water safety standards:
- ISO 9001 Certification: Awarded by TÜV for the comprehensive scope of Design, Manufacture, and Provision of Water Treatment Chemicals, Equipment, and Services.
- ASHRAE 188: Risk management for building water systems, now a baseline for hospitals and long-term care.
- ASSE 12080: Chemstar WATER personnel trained for the standard for water testing.
- State Water System Operator License: Chemstar WATER has the personnel to conduct and train.
- CDC Guidelines: Best practices for Legionella prevention and outbreak response.
- CMS Requirements: Mandates for water management and documentation in Medicare/Medicaid-participating facilities.
Our experts stay ahead of evolving standards, such as the recent ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 standard, which expands water quality definitions and requires a multidisciplinary approach to water management in healthcare
Mission-Critical Support: 24/7 Response
<4 hour Emergency Assistance: Quick response within 4 hours in all service regions.
Proactive Issue Notification: Our team alerts you to potential problems before they escalate, minimizing disruption and risk.
Comprehensive Documentation: Detailed service records support regulatory inspections and continuous improvement.
Legionella Mitigation: Protecting the Most Vulnerable
Why Healthcare Facilities Are at Higher Risk
-
Complex Water Systems: Large, intricate plumbing networks create more opportunities for bacterial growth.
-
At-Risk Populations: Patients with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to severe outcomes from Legionella exposure.
-
Regulatory Requirements: Updated Joint Commission and CMS standards require active water management and documentation.
Chemstar WATER’s Approach
-
Custom Water Management Programs: Developed in partnership with leading infection control experts, our WMPs identify risk points and outline proactive maintenance, monitoring, and response protocols.
-
Staff Training: We educate facility teams on best practices for Legionella prevention and response.
-
Routine Inspections: Scheduled system checks and rapid emergency support ensure ongoing protection.
Why Choose Chemstar WATER for your Water Treatment Solutions for Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare Expertise |
25+ years serving hospitals and senior care facilities |
Legionella Risk Mitigation |
Industry-leading WMPs, continuous testing, and expert consultation |
Regulatory Compliance |
Full alignment with ASHRAE 188, CDC, CMS, and Joint Commission standards |
Rapid Emergency Response |
24/7 support and <4-hour on-site response in covered regions |
Sustainable Solutions |
Programs designed to reduce chemical use, water waste, and environmental impact |
Proven Track Record |
Trusted by major health systems, including MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center |
Get Started: Protect Your Patients and Facility Today
Chemstar WATER is your partner in safeguarding patient health, maintaining compliance, and ensuring operational resilience. From initial risk assessment to ongoing monitoring and emergency response, we deliver the expertise and service healthcare facilities demand.
Contact Chemstar WATER to schedule a consultation or request a risk assessment for your facility:
Chemstar WATER Healthcare Water Treatment
Learn More: Authoritative Resources on Healthcare Water Safety
-
CDC – Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever): Guidance on prevention, outbreak response, and water management in healthcare.
-
ASHRAE Standard 188: Comprehensive standard for Legionella risk management in building water systems.
-
EPA Water Topics: Federal resources on water quality and safety in public facilities.
About Chemstar WATER
Chemstar WATER is a minority-owned, award-winning leader in industrial and healthcare water treatment, serving clients nationwide since 1999.
Commercial water treatment solutions
Influent Water Treatment Water & Energy SavingsBoiler Water TreatmentWastewater Treatment Microbiological ControlCooling Water Treatment
Influent Water Treatment Solutions
Treating incoming water to the facility is a key first step to minimize the microbial contamination downstream. Chemstar WATER has been a trusted provider for secondary potable disinfection systems for many commercial and residential buildings. We utilize cutting-edge technology when solving our customers’ water treatment challenges such as water filtration and softening systems, demineralizers, dealkalizers, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis reversal, electro deionization, and electrolysis processes.
Water + Energy Savings
At Chemstar WATER, we are committed to minimizing water use and maximizing energy efficiency resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. When we deal with cooling systems, boiler systems, all of the improvements we make have a direct impact on water and energy use. We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good, is purpose-driven, and creates benefit for all stakeholders; our people, our communities, and our planet.
Boiler Water Treatment
At Chemstar WATER, we design our boiler water treatment programs to protect the integrity of boilers and all related heat exchange equipment, such as economizers, air preheaters, deaerators, superheaters, and steam turbines.
Many leading industrial and government customers have been trusting Chemstar WATER with their large steam boilers for decades. As you will see in one of our case studies, Chemstar WATER delivers outstanding performance regarding scale, deposit, and corrosion control in the boiler systems.
Wastewater Treatment
Chemstar WATER addresses each wastewater treatment situation with a unique solution to ensure that the right handling, chemicals, and care are given to serve each customer appropriately and effectively. Our engineering team designs efficient wastewater solutions with the right chemical and service makeup while keeping the total cost and effectiveness in mind.
Microbiological Control
In industrial water treatment programs, effective microbiological control is one of the essential pillars — alongside scale inhibition and corrosion mitigation — needed for maintaining system integrity and efficiency. These three elements form a “three-legged stool” of water treatment. If any one of the legs is deficient, the entire system’s performance and reliability can be compromised.
Cooling Water Treatment
Cooling towers are essential for industrial and commercial operations, but without proper water treatment, they are vulnerable to scale formation, corrosion, and microbiological contamination. These issues can reduce heat transfer efficiency, increase energy consumption, and lead to costly repairs.
At Chemstar WATER, we provide customized cooling water treatment solutions that optimize system performance, extend equipment life, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
