Legionella and Your Water System

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2016 health departments reported about 6,100 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the US. Legionella is naturally occurring; however when it grows and spreads into human made building water systems individuals can become infected. The types of complex water systems like those found in hospitals, hotels and cruise ships are at risk of becoming sources of infection.
 
Common recommendations for Legionella control and prevention procedures are:

• Remove unused piping loops, dead-legs and water storage tanks
• Test incoming water supply at the building water service entrance
• Periodically test water samples from the cooling tower basins
• Replace damaged drift eliminators at the cooling tower exhaust outlets
• Provide UV Light at Air Handling Unit coils
• Install filtration units for cooling tower recirculation water loops
• Clean and disinfect cooling towers

 
Additional assistance our professional engineers can provide includes: assessing existing conditions, validate and update piping plans, assist with long term facility infrastructure and maintenance planning and provide recommendations and cost estimates to mitigate potential for Legionella.
 
Click here for additional information from the CDC about Legionella.