About Us

Hydrohelix was established in 2011 as a microbiology consulting and auditing company and focuses mainly on managing bacteria and other microorganisms in water treatment systems. We specialise particularly in the prevention of Legionnaires' disease in cooling tower and other warm water systems.
Services:
  • Risk Management
  • Statutory Audits
  • Investigations
  • Research

Business Principles

Quality
All work undertaken will be performed at a very high standard by an experienced consultant, with appropriate registrations and insurances in place.
Convenience
Our mission is to make the experience for our clients as easy as possible. We typically collect all information and paperwork required.
Affordability
We offer our services at a very competitive price without cutting corners. We can achieve this due to our very advanced systems and automated software.

OnGUARD AUDITING

Legionaries’ disease from cooling towers has claimed many lives in Australia over the years. The Melbourne Aquarium outbreak in 2000 prompted the Victorian government to implement tough new legislation to reduce the risk of further outbreaks. This legislation required all cooling towers to be registered, serviced in accordance with a current Risk Management Plan (RMP) as well as being independently audited on an annual basis. Many larger firms naturally concerned about protecting their reputation and “hip pocket” from Legionella risk, have chosen to implement this “best practice” approach nationally. Audits for cooling towers typically involve a “STATIC” examination of maintenance and testing records once per calendar year. Whilst this approach might meet legal requirements, the big problem is that your audit is always out of date!! Just because you were compliant at your last audit, (perhaps a year ago!!) it doesn’t tell you anything about how you’re tracking today. Sure things might have been all fine back then… but the wheels may have fallen off your cooling tower in the last few months and you’re none the wiser! Your old audit certificate will afford you NO protection if a compliance breach or Legionella event occurs today! Hydrohelix addresses this fundamental flaw in the auditing process via our OnGUARD AUDITING website which affords our clients the ability to see in “real time” whether their tower is compliant, and if not the reason why not! This approach effectively means that we’re able to provide our clients a compliant, up-to-date audit certificate at any given time…. something that really will provide them protection in the event of Department of Health investigation or a Legionella event!

Principle Consultant and Auditor

Drikus du Plooy - Microbiologist
Drikus has been working in the cooling tower water treatment industry for the past two decades. He initially started on the tools as a water treatment technician where he learnt firsthand the principles of cooling tower water treatment. Later he gained experience in service management, research and development, account management, risk management and auditing. He has also completed a bachelor degree in biotechnology with honours in microbiology, together with numerous short courses in water treatment, business administration, health and safety, risk management and auditing. Drikus is a licensed cooling tower legionella auditor in Victoria and New South Wales.

Our Clients