GB2542249A

GB2542249A - A hot water system which is in a building and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease

Info

Publication number: GB2542249A
Application number: GB1612447.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Milton Peter
Original assignee: Real Time Logistics Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Real Time Logistics Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-21
Filing date: 2016-07-15
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Also published as: GB201612447D0

Abstract

A water supply system 2 comprises a boiler 10, pump 12, and hot water outlets 6 in rooms 8 of a building 4.Temperature sensors 14 measure the temperature of water leaving hot water outlets 6 and transmitters 18 transmit temperature data of hot water leaving the outlets 6 to a monitor 16 which operates continuously to provide data on the hot water temperature at the outlets 6. A hot water outlet 6 which provides water which does not become sufficiently hot in a predetermined time period and is providing water at a temperature under which a water-borne disease can exist is identified. The hot water outlets 6 may be taps or showers. Second temperature sensing means may sense the temperature of water at cold water outlets and identify outlets providing water which is not sufficiently cold. The temperature sensors 14 may be attached to hot or cold water supply pipes by aluminium clips (24, Fig. 4). Position-indicating means (19, Fig. 5), such as radio frequency identification devices may indicate the position of the temperature sensors 14 in the rooms 8.

Description

A WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM WHICH IS IN A BUILDING AND WHICH IS FOR REDUCING THE SPREAD OF A WATER-BORNE DISEASE

This invention relates to a water supply system and, more especially, this invention relates to a water supply system which is in a building and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease. The building may be, for example, a hotel, hospital, care home or the like.

In order to provide enough water for guests, hotels have large water storage tanks. When water is stored in such tanks, there is always a possibility of a water-borne disease occurring. Typically, the water-borne disease may be legionnaires disease. In order to help to prevent the spread of such water-borne diseases, official regulations require that all hot water leaving water outlets in hot water systems for hotels must be at a predetermined temperature above which the water-borne diseases cannot exist. It sometimes occurs that the temperature of the hot water leaving hot water outlets in rooms in the hotel falls below the required predetermined temperature. If this is not noticed for some time, then water-borne diseases are given the opportunity to incubate and breed. A similar problem occurs in other premises, for example in hospitals and care homes. GB 2452311 addresses the above mentioned problem. More specifically, GB 2452311 discloses a hot water system which is in a building and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease. The hot water system comprises a temperature monitoring device. The temperature monitoring device is provided as a replacement for an operative who would manually monitor the temperature of the hot water. The operative who would manually monitor the temperature of the hot water would normally only do so at specified time intervals, for example perhaps once a month. Because the temperature monitoring device is designed to replace the operative, the temperature monitoring device is configured to operate only at spaced apart time intervals, for example of one month. More specifically, the temperature monitoring device is configured such that hot water will normally pass through the device and will not be monitored until such time as it is determined that the temperature monitoring device should operate in a test mode. Hot water is then run from a hot water inlet to a hot water outlet in the temperature monitoring device, and the temperature is measured. The temperature monitoring device will normally be left on until a sufficient time has passed for the temperature of the hot water to reach its maximum, whereupon this temperature will then be the one that is monitored at the hot water outlet. This time period required for the hot water to reach its maximum temperature may vary in dependence upon the length of the pipe work from a boiler providing the hot water to the temperature monitoring device. The time period may also vary in dependence upon the capacity of the hot water boiler. The time period may further also vary in dependence upon the number of hot water outlets being used at any one time.

The temperature monitoring device of GB 2452311 thus does not provide a true picture of how the hot water system is operating. The temperature monitoring device is simply operated periodically in an isolated test mode. The temperature monitoring device is allowed to operate in this test mode until it determines that the temperature of the water is that required. The test is then concluded and if the temperature of the water is that which is required, then everything is noted as being satisfactory. This is in fact not the case in real life. More specifically, the temperature monitoring device in GB 2452311 takes no account of the operation of the hot water system in periods between tests. The periods between tests as a practical matter are likely to be monthly or longer. In these periods between tests, the hot water system may be operating such that one or more of its water outlets is operating at a temperature at which a water-borne disease could exist. For example, if the water outlet is at the end of a long pipe run in a room that is not often used, then the water in the pipe to the water outlet may be stagnant for many days. This stagnant water will not be at the required temperature, and it may well be in the range in which a water-borne disease is able to exist. Thus the first person that turns on the water outlet, for example a tap, is likely to catch the water-borne disease. It may also be that there are so many water outlets in the hot water system, that the boiler is unable to cope and provide water at the required temperature when too many of the water outlets in the water system are being used at one time, for example in the morning when people are getting up in a hotel. The boiler may simply not have a large enough hot water heating capacity, or the boiler may have become defective. The hot water system may have defective pumps for circulating the hot water through the hot water pipes to the hot water outlets. All of these problems are not able to be identified with the hot water system of GB 2452311 and its temperature monitoring device which is configured simply to operate in a periodic one-off test mode, and with a view to the temperature monitoring device simply replacing the operative who would otherwise have done the test.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a water supply system which is in a building and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease, which water supply system comprises hot water outlets in rooms in the building, at least one boiler for providing hot water, at least one pump for circulating the hot water through hot water pipes to the hot water outlets, a plurality of first temperature sensor means for sensing the temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets, monitor means, and transmitter means for transmitting to the monitor means data relating to the sensed temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets, and the water supply system being characterised in that the first temperature sensor means, the monitor means and the transmitter means are configured to operate continuously all the time the water supply system is operating, whereby the monitor means is able to provide data on the temperature of the water supply leaving the hot water outlets all the time the hot water system is operating and thereby identify any of the hot water outlets that are providing hot water at a temperature which does not become sufficiently hot in a predetermined time period and are thus providing hot water under conditions at which the water-borne disease is able to exist.

The water supply system of the present invention is advantageous in that it is able to operate continuously, and thereby continuously be vigilant against the spread of the water-borne disease. The water supply system of the present invention is able to be used in a wide variety of premises as a modified form of an existing water supply system, with the modified form able to take into account and indicate for corrective action, breeding grounds for water-borne diseases, for example due to long pipe runs to various water outlets in little used rooms, or due to boilers with insufficient heating capacity and that need to be upgraded, and or due to boilers running below the capacity at which they should be running and thus requiring servicing. The water supply system of the present invention may alternatively be a completely new installation in a wide variety of premises.

The water supply system of the present invention is also advantageously able to be used to indicate defects in existing water supply systems having water saving devices. Such water supply systems which are widely used in many public establishments such for example as the toilets or showers of hotels, hospitals, care homes and the like. The supply systems often use devices such as a biased button or a sensor to limit the on-time of a tap. When the button is depressed, a spring or other mechanism within the tap causes the button to be returned to its non-water providing position after a set period of time. This avoids the tap being left on for longer than is required and thereby wasting water. Alternatively, with a sensor, for example an infrared sensor, the sensor may operate consequent upon the sensor sensing the position of the person’s hands or another part of their body. The sensor is configured to operate to allow water dispensation for only a predetermined period of time, with this predetermined period of time being that adjudged to be that required for the washing but without being so long as to waste water. These types of water saving systems may often be such that they do not allow the water in the water supply system to reach a temperature which is sufficiently hot in the allowed predetermined time period for the hot water to be at conditions of which the water-borne disease is unable to exist.

In water supply systems in the form of hot water systems, the temperature in the predetermined time period may be that which is above the temperature range at which the water-borne disease is able to exist. Alternatively, the temperature in the predetermined period may be that which is within the range at which the water-borne disease is able to exist but only in this range for a short period of time, the water having left the boiler at the required temperature outside the range at Which the water-borne disease can exist, and not being in the water pipes for a sufficiently long length of time for the water-borne disease to germinate and become established.

The water-borne disease may be legionnaires disease. In this case, the predetermined temperature may be above 50°C because legionnaires disease only exists in water at temperatures of 20 - 50°C. The water-borne disease may be other than legionnaires disease, in which case the predetermined temperature will be appropriate to the temperature of the actual disease.

The water supply system will typically be one in which the first temperature sensor means are attached to the hot water pipes. The first temperature sensor means may be positioned elsewhere if desired. When the first temperature sensor means are attached to the hot water pipes, then they will usually be attached to the hot water pipes adjacent the hot water outlets. The attachment of the first temperature sensor means adjacent the hot water outlets can be at any distance from the hot water outlets that gives accurate sensing of the temperature of the water leaving the hot water outlets.

The first temperature sensor means may be first clip temperature sensor means. Other types of first temperature sensor means may be employed so that, for example, the first temperature sensor means may be a clamp first temperature sensor means. The first temperature sensor means may include a part or parts made of a good heat conducting material such for example as aluminium.

In addition to the above problem relating to hot water systems, there exists a problem with cold water systems. This problem with cold water systems is especially acute in hospitals where the temperature inside the hospitals has to be higher than that in buildings such for example as hotels due to the fact that the hospitals contain patients who are invariably in bed for long periods of time and who are invariably lightly dressed in, for example, pyjamas, nightdresses or hospital bed-wear. The hospitals often have cold water outlets, for example taps to sinks, which are not used on a frequent basis and which are low use cold water outlets. With such low use cold water outlets, the cold water is run off on an infrequent basis and may often be in cold water pipes for extended periods of time. During these periods of time, the cold water in the cold water pipes acquires heat from the surrounding environment in the hospitals. The temperature of the surrounding environment is appreciably higher than the temperature of the cold water in the cold water pipes, due to the fact that the hospitals are required to operate at high temperatures for patient comfort. The result is that cold water in cold water pipes leading to low-use water outlets absorbs appreciable heat from the environment surrounding the water pipes, and thus the cold water is very likely to acquire a temperature in excess of that normally to be expected from cold water. This acquired temperature is likely to enter the lower end of the temperature range at which a water-borne disease may exist. If the management of a hospital is sufficiently astute to recognise this problem, then cold water has to be run off from the cold water outlets in order to ensure that the cold water does not remain in the cold water pipes for a sufficient length of time to acquire a temperature which enables the water to enter the lower end of the temperature range at which a water-borne disease is able to exist. Buildings such for example as hospitals will invariably have many low use cold water outlets, which may require the services of an appreciable number of persons to run off the water to reduce a temperature build-up in the cold water in the cold water pipes. Apart from the cost of the personnel, there is also the problem of the wastage of water. Still further, if the management personnel of hospitals or other buildings with a large number of low-use cold water outlets is not sufficiently astute to recognise the problem, then a very real opportunity exists for a water-borne disease to incubate and breed in the cold water pipes.

In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the water supply system is able to obviate or reduce the problem. More specifically, the water supply system of the present invention may include cold water pipes, cold water outlets in rooms in the building, and a plurality of second temperature sensors means for sensing the temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets, and the water supply system being such that the transmitter means is also for transmitting to the monitor means data relating to the sensed temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets, and the monitor means is also able to provide data on the temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets all the time the water supply system is operating and thereby identify any of the cold water outlets that are providing cold water at a temperature which is not sufficiently cold and is thus providing cold water under conditions at which the water-borne disease is able to exist.

The water supply system may be one in which the second temperature sensor means are attached to the cold water pipes. The second temperature sensor means may be positioned elsewhere if desired. When the second temperature sensor means are attached to the cold water pipes, then they will usually be attached to the cold water pipes adjacent the cold water outlets. The attachment of the second temperature sensors means adjacent the cold water outlets can be at any distance from the cold water outlets that gives accurate sensing of the temperature of the water leaving the cold water outlets.

The second temperature sensor means may be the same as the first temperature sensor means. Thus, for example, the second temperature sensor means may be clip temperature sensor means. Other types of second temperature sensor means may be employed so that, for example, the second temperature sensor means may be a clamp second temperature sensor means. The second temperature sensor means may include a part or parts made of a good heat conducting material such for example as aluminium.

The cold water outlets will typically comprise taps.

The hot water outlets will typically comprise taps. The building may have taps in many rooms including, for example, bedrooms, bathrooms, bar rooms and kitchen rooms. In the case of bedrooms and bathrooms, the hot water outlets may comprise shower heads.

The water supply system may include position-indicating means for indicating the position of the temperature sensor means in their various rooms in the building, and thereby to enable the establishment of the location of any of the hot water outlets providing the hot water at the temperature which does not become sufficiently hot in the predetermined time period.

The position-indicating means may also be effective to enable the location of a leak and/or a cause of the hot water in the entire hot water system, or in a part of the hot water system, not being at the required temperature in the predetermined time period.

The predetermined time period may be any suitable period which is determined as being not so long as to enable a realistic chance of the waterborne disease becoming established. Thus, for example the predetermined period may be a time limit of from 20 - 60 seconds.

The water supply system may be one in which the position-indicating means is also for indicating the position of the second temperature sensing means in their various rooms, and thereby to enable the establishment of the location of any of the cold water outlets providing the cold water at the temperature which is not sufficiently cold.

The position-indicating means may be a radio frequency identification device. The radio frequency identification device may be an active device or a passive device. Other types of position-indicating means may be employed.

The position-indicating means may form part of the transmitter means. Alternatively, the position-indicating means may be a separate unit.

The transmitter means may transmit data that is the sensed temperature. Alternatively, the transmitter means may transmit other types of data that indicates the sensed temperature.

The monitor means may be a computer monitor means. The monitor means may monitor in real time. The monitor means may provide a visual and/or audible warning in the event that the sensed temperature of the hot water is less than the predetermined temperature.

The monitor means may provide a hard copy record of the sensed temperature of the hot water. The hard copy record may be on paper and/or on a disc.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a hotel provided with a water supply system of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the water supply system used in the hotel shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates how temperature sensor means may be attached to a hot water pipe to a sink;

Figure 4 shows a detail of what is shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 shows position-indicating means for indicating the position of the temperature sensor means.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a water supply system 2 which is in a hotel 4 and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease. The water supply system 2 comprises hot water outlets 6 in rooms 8 in the hotel 4. The water supply system 2 further comprises a boiler 10 for providing hot water, and a pump 12 for circulating the hot water through hot water pipes to the hot water outlets 6.

The water supply system 2 further comprises a plurality of first temperature sensor means 14 for sensing the temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets 6. Also provided are monitor means 16 and transmitter means 18. The transmitter means 18 is for transmitting to the monitor means 16 data relating to the sensed temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets 6.

The water supply system 2 Is characterised in that the first temperature sensor means 14, the monitor means 16 and the transmitter means 18 are configured to operate continuously all the time the water supply system 2 is operating. The monitor means 16 is then able to provide data on the temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets 6 all the time the water supply system 2 is operating. The monitor means 6 is thereby able to identify any of the hot water outlets 6 that are providing hot water at a temperature which does not become sufficiently hot in a predetermined time period and is thus providing hot water under conditions at which the waterborne disease is able to exist. The required temperature at the hot Water outlets 6 may be that above the temperature at which the water-borne disease is able to exist. The required temperature at the hot water outlets 6 may alternatively be below the temperature at which the water-borne disease is able to exist, but within a predetermined time period at which the water will be safe to use due to the fact that the water will have initially been supplied by the boiler 10 at a temperature which is above that at which the water-borne disease is able to exist, and the water will have only cooled in the hot water pipes for a short period of time below that required prior to being used. In this short period of time, it will be not likely that the water-borne disease will commence. In the case of legionnaires disease, the hot water system may be required to have a predetermined hot water temperature at the outlets 6 above 50°C because the temperature at which legionnaires disease exists is 20 - 50°C.

The hot water outlets 6 include taps as shown schematically in Figure 1. The taps may be in rooms 8 which are bedrooms, a kitchen and a bar. For the bedrooms, the hot water outlets 6 may include showers as also shown schematically in Figure 1. The taps may be at sinks and baths in bedrooms. In bathrooms, the hot water outlets 6 may include showerheads.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the temperature sensor means 14 senses the temperature of the hot water in a hot water pipe 20 to a sink 22. The hot water waste pipe 20 may alternatively be the hot water inlet pipe to a shower.

The first temperature sensor means 14 may be clip sensor means which each comprises a clip 24 as shown in Figure 4. The clip 24 is easily installed by simply clipping to the hot water inlet pipe 20. The clip 24 is made of aluminium which is a good heat conducting material.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the first temperature sensor means 14 and the transmitter means 18 may be formed as a single unit.

The water supply system of the present invention may include position-indicating means 19 as shown in Figure 5. The position-indicating means 19 is for indicating the position of the first temperature sensor means 14 in their various rooms 8 in the hotel 4. The position-indicating means 19 are thus to enable the establishment of the location of any of the hot water outlets 6 providing hot water that is not sufficiently hot in the predetermined time period. The position indicating means 19 may help to indicate where a problem such for example as a leak is occurring, and which is causing the temperature of the hot water in the water supply system 2 to be less than it should be. The position-indicating means 19 may be part of the transmitter means 18, or it may be a separate unit. The position-indicating means 19 may be a radio frequency identification device. The radio frequency identification device may be an active or a passive radio frequency identification device. The transmitter means 18, or the position-indicating means 19 if a separate unit, transmits data that is the sensed temperature at the water outlets 6.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown position-indicating means 19 in the form of a radio frequency identification device. The radio frequency identification device has a body 21 with break-outs 23. The break-outs 23 are able to be broken away in order to enable access to be gained to a printed circuit board 25. Thus, for example, one break-out 23 may be employed to utilise any desired analogue value that operates on a standard analogue output. Typically the analogue output is 4 - 20 milliamps. The analogue value may be any desired value including, for example, temperature, vibration or electrical power. Another one of the break-outs 23 may be used for any desired digital use, for example for counting, indicating when a door is open, or indicating when the apparatus is on or off. As many as required of the break-outs 23 may be used. The body 21 is shown including a battery 27 and an antenna 29. The position-indicating means 19 will usually be provided with a unique identification number. When the position-indicating means 19 is indicating something other than position, it will be apparent that the position-indicating means 19 is then operating as data-providing means for providing data, such for example as the above mentioned information on vibration, power, counting, or on/off state.

The monitor means 16 is a computer monitor means. The monitor means monitors in real time. The monitor means 16 provides a visual and/or audible warning in the event that the sensed temperature of the hot water is less than the predetermined temperature. The monitor means 16 is able to provide a hard copy record of the sensed temperatures of the hot water. The hard copy record may be made on paper and/or a disc. The hard copy record may be advantageous in determining when a fault has occurred, and for how long the fault has been in existence prior to being detected and corrected.

The water supply system 2 is advantageous in being able to minimise the possibility of a water-borne disease, for example legionnaires disease occurring. More specifically, the disease is likely to occur in cold water storage tanks 26 in a roof space 28 of the hotel 2. If the disease does exist, it will at least be killed when the water from the cold storage tanks 26 is heated to an appropriate temperature by the boiler 10 and circulated by the pump 12 to the hot water outlet 6.

The water supply system 2 is also advantageous in that it enables the water supply system 2 in the hotel 4 to be monitored on a continuous basis. Hitherto, testing of the water supply system 2 would typically be done manually with a person using a thermometer, and recording temperatures in a log book. Such testing could only be done when hotel rooms were not occupied by guests, which meant that the testing was very sporadic. In the hotel 4, the best time to test the water system is in the morning when people are getting up and washing in preparation for breakfast. The water supply system 2 is then under maximum use, but this is the very time that the hotel rooms are occupied by guests, and are thus not available for maintenance staff to do the testing. With the water supply system 2 of the present invention, there is no inconvenience to guests, the testing can be done on a continuous twenty-four hour seven day a week basis, and at times when the water supply system 2 is subject to maximum use, which is the best time to test the water supply system 2.

The water supply system 2 described above monitors hot water. In an optional modification of the water supply system 2, the water supply system 2 is also able to monitor cold water. In this case, the water supply system will include cold water pipes, cold water outlets in rooms in the building and a plurality of second temperature sensor means for sensing the temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets. The water supply system will then be such that the transmitter means 18 is also for transmitting to the monitor means 14 data relating to the sensed temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets. The monitor means 16 will then also be able to provide data on the temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets all the time the water supply system is operating and thereby identify any of the cold water outlets that are providing cold water at a temperature which is not sufficiently cold and is thus providing cold water under conditions of which the water-borne disease is able to exist.

The second temperature sensor means may be the same as the first temperature sensors means. The second temperature sensor means may be attached to the cold water pipes, for example at comparable positions to the attachment of the first temperature sensor means to the hot water pipes.

When the water supply system is such that it is also able to monitor the temperature of cold water at the cold water outlets, then the water supply system may be especially useful in hospitals which traditionally operate with a hot environment due to the need to provide patient comfort, and in which hospitals cold water in cold water pipes is likely to become heated to a minimum temperature at which a water-borne disease, for example legionnaires disease, is able to exist, if the cold water outlets are low-use cold water outlets.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the clip 24 may be made of a material other than aluminium. The hotel may be of any suitable and appropriate size. The hotel may alternatively be a hospital, care home or other building. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A water supply system which is in a building and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease, which water supply system comprises hot water outlets in rooms in the building, at least one boiler for providing hot water, at least one pump for circulating the hot water through hot water pipes to the hot water outlets, a plurality of first temperature sensor means for sensing the temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets, monitor means, and transmitter means for transmitting to the monitor means data relating to the sensed temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets, and the water supply system being characterised in that the first temperature sensor means, the monitor means and the transmitter means are configured to operate continuously all the time the water supply system is operating, whereby the monitor means is able to provide data on the temperature of the hot water leaving the hot water outlets all the time the water supply system is operating and thereby identify any of the hot water outlets that are providing hot water at a temperature which does not become sufficiently hot in a predetermined time period and are thus providing hot water under conditions at which the water-borne disease is able to exist.

2. A water supply system according to claim 1 in which the first temperature sensor means are attached to the hot water pipes.

3. A water supply system according to claim 2 in which the first temperature sensor means are attached to the hot water pipes adjacent the hot water outlets.

4. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first temperature sensor means are first clip temperature sensor means.

5. A water supply system according to claim 4 in which the first clip temperature sensors means each includes a clip which is made of aluminium.

6. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims and including cold water pipes, cold water outlets in rooms in the building, and a plurality of second temperature sensor means for sensing the temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets, and the water supply system being such that the transmitter means is also for transmitting to the monitor means data relating to the sensed temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets, and the monitor means is also able to provide data on the temperature of the cold water leaving the cold water outlets all the time the water supply system is operating and thereby identify any of the cold water outlets that are providing cold water at a temperature which is not sufficiently cold and is thus providing cold water under conditions at which the water-borne disease is able to exist.

7. A water supply system according to claim 6 in which the second temperature sensor means are attached to the cold water pipes.

8. A water supply system according to claim 7 in which the second temperature sensor means are attached to the cold water pipes adjacent the cold water outlets.

9. A water supply system according to any one of claims 6 - 8 in which the second temperature sensors means are second clip temperature sensor means.

10. A water supply system according to claim 9 in which the second clip temperature sensor means each includes a clip which is made of aluminium.

11. A water supply system according to any one of claims 6 - 10 in which the cold water outlets include taps.

12. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hot water outlets include taps.

13. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hot water outlets include showers.

14. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims and including position-indicating means for indicating the position of the first temperature sensor means in their various rooms in the building, and thereby to enable the establishment of the location of any of the hot water outlets providing the hot water at the temperature which is not sufficiently hot.

15. A water supply system according to claim 14 in which the position-indicating means is also for indicating the position of the second temperature sensor means in their various rooms, and thereby to enable the establishment of the location of any of the cold water outlets providing the cold water at the temperature which is not sufficiently cold.

16. A water supply system according to claim 14 or claim 15 in which the position-indicating means is a radio frequency identification device.

17. A water supply system according to any one of claims 15 - 16 in which the position-indicating means forms a part of the transmitter means.

18. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the transmitter means transmits data that is the sensed temperature.

19. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the monitor means is a computer monitor means.

20. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the monitor means monitors in real time.

21. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the monitor means provides a visual and/or audible warning.

22. A water supply system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the monitor means provides a hard copy record.

23. A water supply system which is in a building and which is for reducing the spread of a water-borne disease, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.