You Are Here : Home / Business/ Operating a business / Water cooling systems

Water cooling systems

A water cooling system is a device that lowers the temperature of water by evaporative cooling.

Water is cooled in a tower and delivered to an interface with an air-handling system, allowing the water to cool the air. The cold air is delivered towards the building or plant operation, and the hot air is delivered away from the building or plant operation.

The water in these systems can provide a favourable environment for growth of microbes, such as Legionella, if not safely managed and regularly monitored.

Regulation and registration

An occupier of a premises with a cooling tower must ensure that the system is installed, operated and maintained in accordance with the Public Health Act 2010 and the Public Health Regulation 2022.

Premises with a cooling tower in the Cessnock Local Government Area must be registered with Council. To register, you must fill a Notification of installation or change in particulars form (see Approved Form 6) and return in to Council (fees apply).

Due to recent changes to the Public Health Regulation 2022, cooling towers are now monitored on risk management approach (under AS/NZS 3666 Part 3).

Requirements businesses must follow can be found in the Council's Legionella Management Plan(PDF, 694KB) and the NSW Guidelines for Legionella Control in Cooling Water Systems.