Last year, on February 20, 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released a proposed rule in the Pennsylvania Bulletin which called for the state’s water utilities to maintain a 0.2 mg/L chlorine residual in the water distribution system. This kind of active form of prevention should not only reduce the risk to individuals and families, but should also allow the groundwork necessary for other states across the country to pursue similar preventative actions. Indeed water distribution endpoints (i.e. all locations prior to potable water entering a residential or commercial building) are vital spots for potentially legionella bacteria formation. As…
According to new information published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stainless steel fixtures contain a protective coating that can degrade over time; this degradation encourages the growth of Legionella. It is well known in among those who study Legionnaires’ disease that water containing rust particles is an environment where Legionella can better thrive. Similarly, a stainless steel sink without the protective coating creates an environment conducive to Legionella growth. The ECDC has released a list of more suitable materials for kitchen sink manufactures that are less likely to expose individuals to a higher risk of…
Over the past few weeks, several news reports have shed light on three Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks occurring in different areas in the United States. Each of these Outbreaks (New York City with multiple locations, The LA Fitness Gym and the Las Vegas Outbreak at the Rio Hotel) have resulted in multiple victims who contracted the disease including one woman who died as a result of Legionnaires’ disease as part of the NYC Outbreak. These three outbreaks continue the trend that we have seen over the last 15 years. Legionnaires’ disease is on the rise. According to a Dailymail.com article, the…
Legionella, the Legionnaires’ disease causing bacteria, is ubiquitous in the natural environment, especially in damp soil and water. While the organism is present more or less everywhere, water temperatures of 72–107 °F are ideal conditions for rapid growth. This explains why outbreaks of Legionnaire’s disease become more common in the summer months and have often been linked to contaminated artificial water systems – especially air conditioning units in large buildings which use water for cooling. Studies of associations between weather variables and sporadic cases of legionnaires’ disease suggest that as temperatures rise globally so too does the prevalence of environments conducive to legionella growth.…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a requirement to all healthcare facilities on June 2, 2017 to reduce the risk of the Legionella bacteria in their water systems. This bacteria is the cause of Legionnaires’ disease. CMS issued this requirement because of numerous recent Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care facilities. As stated in the regulation; The hospital must provide a sanitary environment to avoid sources and transmission of infections and communicable diseases. There must be an active program for the prevention, control and investigation of infections and communicable diseases[i] The same type of regulation…
Delta Cooling Towers, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of cooling towers, has unveiled a product that they hope will prevent the spread of Legionella bacteria. The cooling towers are made of an anti-microbial resin that has been treated with additives to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The plastic towers are also less affected by water treatments than metal towers–corrosive treatments in metal towers can release nutrients that feed Legionella bacteria. John Flaherty, president of Delta Cooling Towers, mentioned in a statement that this innovation is only one part of the process of safe water management. Competent and consistent maintenance of cooling towers is…
Analysts expect the global market for Legionella testing to grow considerably over the next several years. As property owners and businesses become aware of the value of testing their water systems for Legionella, demand for testing products and water experts should increase. Public health initiatives and the widespread publicity of cases like the Bronx outbreak and the Flint water crisis have increased awareness of the risks of Legionnaires’ disease in the popular mind. As doctors and patients become more aware that diagnoses of pneumonia and colds might be concealing the presence of Legionella, advancements in testing will drive up the demand…
Image via http://www.unclejohnshandymanservice.com An article from the Wall Street Journal elaborates on some investigations into Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the past 15 years. The results showed that the vast majority of outbreaks were caused by negligence on the part of maintenance employees who did not maintain biocides effectively, repair or change equipment on schedule, or did not adequately maintain the plumbing. These look like easily fixable problems, but it’s more complicated than it seems. The guidelines for preventing Legionella are not standards, and there are virtually no laws requiring specific Legionella prevention. This means…
Most occupations adhere to standards of safety or quality that are developed over many years, and designing interior building systems is no exception. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) is an organization that produces updated standards and guidelines for jobs involving central systems in buildings. The guidelines are not guaranteed to prevent accidents or eradicate risks, but are generally considered the best ways to prevent undesirable occurrences. The ASHRAE 12-2000 Guideline, entitled Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, focuses on what architects, construction companies, and maintenance employees…