How IoT automates Legionella compliance in buildings

Northern Irish startup CreevX automates legionella compliance in commercial buildings – with IoT sensors, automated flushing, and Deutsche Telekom's global connectivity.

"Deutsche Telekom's connectivity allows us to scale across Europe without complexity. The reliability of their network gives our clients confidence that their buildings are monitored around the clock."

Sean Nelson, Founder, CreevX

Three steps to an IoT use case

Challenge

In commercial buildings, water that sits unused in pipes for extended periods can become a breeding ground for legionella bacteria – a serious health risk. Regulations such as the UK's HSG 274 require building operators to monitor water temperatures and ensure regular water movement. Until now, this has been a manual process: staff drive to sites, check temperatures with handheld thermometers, and run taps with hot and cold water for several minutes. This approach is costly, wastes water and energy, and offers no reliable proof that the work has actually been done.

Solution

CreevX has developed a two-in-one IoT device that monitors water temperatures every 15 minutes and, where needed, automatically flushes stagnant water through the pipes. The devices use LoRaWAN to communicate with a gateway, which transmits data to the cloud via Deutsche Telekom’s mobile IoT network. The system detects when water has not moved for a critical period and opens battery-operated solenoid valves – only when necessary and for the minimum duration required. An AI-powered platform analyzes the data to identify maintenance issues such as faulty boilers or unbalanced mixing valves.

Customer benefits

Telekom's global IoT connectivity enables CreevX to deploy its solution across the UK, Ireland, and increasingly across Europe – all on a single tariff, without the need for separate contracts in each country. Building operators benefit from up to 60% lower compliance costs, up to 90% less water wasted on unnecessary flushing, and significantly reduced CO₂ emissions from eliminated site visits. The platform provides data-driven evidence of compliance – replacing guesswork with verifiable records.

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CreevX: Smart IoT water management to combat Legionella
The Northern Irish start-up CreevX uses IoT sensors and automatic flushing to prevent Legionella in building water systems. Telekom connectivity enables the company to scale up across Europe.
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