Dead leg

Definition

A section of piping or a low-use branch where water stagnates and circulation is poor.

Dead legs stay cool during thermal treatment, accumulate biofilm, and provide ideal shelter that disinfectants miss. A sulfide odor near a dead leg suggests anaerobic activity such as sulfate reduction. They are prime reservoirs for Legionella and for persistent biofilm communities.

Related concepts

Legionella · Flow management · Thermal disinfection

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