Virtually everything to do with cleaning or sanitation eventually ends up down the drain, out of sight and out of mind. But what does the inside of a drain look like and how does it affect the health and safety of the facility that it so diligently serves?

The inside of a drain is dark, moist and full of all the waste that we wanted to wash away. A perfect environment for bacteria, fungi and viruses to move in and thrive. In fact, studies have found that drains are safe havens for pathogens acting as reservoirs in what may otherwise be a clean, healthy facility.

Not many people spend their day poking around drains so what does bacteria in my drain have to do with the rest of my facility?

When water hits your drain surface or the surface of the water in your drain trap it “splashes” and creates countless tiny droplets of water called aerosols. These aerosols are infected with the contents of the drain and the largest of them have been shown to project at least 1 meter from the drain with smaller droplets likely travelling much further. One study looking at similar aerosols generated by toilets flushing showed that E coli was still present in the air above the toilet 6 hours after the last flush. Other studies suggest that the same may apply to other pathogens like influenza and Norovirus.

So, whether it is Listeria or E coli in a food facility, deadly fungus or antibiotic resistant bacteria in a hospital, or that nasty smell in the drain of your hotel room or home drains can be a real problem the consequences of which can range from annoying to deadly.

How can I prevent my drain from spreading infection in my facility?

ServClean® DRAIN CL, now in Canada through Charlotte Products Ltd., is designed to deep clean and sanitize drains reducing the microbial contamination and reducing the risks associated with contaminated drains.

An innovative and simple use product to ensure your drains are healthy and remain a hero, not a hindrance.

Mark McInnes, M.Sc
Research and Development Manager
Charlotte Products Ltd.