5 Reasons You Might Have a Legionella Problem in Your Facility
If you own or operate a facility of any size, you might have a Legionella problem.
Why should you care? Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of lung infection called Legionnaires’ disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in the United States each year. LD can be fatal, with 3%-33% of Legionella infections resulting in a fatality.
Do you have a Legionella problem in your facility? Below are 5 reasons you might.
1) According to the CDC, “there is no safe level of Legionella in a water system.”
During Congressional testimony, a CDC representative stated, “There is not a clear relationship between the amount of Legionella in the water and risk for disease, and therefore there is no safe level of Legionella in a water system.” The EPA has established a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of zero organisms for drinking water.
2) Even if you treated your water for Legionella in the past, you’re not in the clear.
The “When Legionella is identified in a water system, CDC recommends that measures be taken to remove the bacteria from the water, known as remediation. The most frequently used initial remediation measures include superheating or hyper-chlorinating the water system. These methods do not usually lead to permanent removal, so a long term plan for the prevention of Legionella growth is almost always necessary.”
3) While no facility is immune, the larger your facility, the greater your risk.
Legionella expert Victor Yu, MD is reported to have stated that “up to 70% of all buildings greater than three stories in the US may be contaminated with Legionella,” according to Building Operating Management magazine. It is imperative that all facilities have a water management plan to monitor and remediate Legionella, and for larger facilities, it’s critical. A single case of Legionella can create a legal risk of more than $1 million, but a water management plan can reduce both your bacterial risk and legal liability.
Legionella risk assessment calculator: Calculate your facility’s risk for Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ Disease.
4) Legionella is not just deep in the water system, it can be literally in your face.
People can get Legionnaires’ disease if they breathe in water droplets containing Legionella or if contaminated water goes into the lungs while drinking. Moreover, a variety of internal and external factors can lead to a Legionella problem in your building, including:
- Construction
- Water main issues
- City water quality variations
- Biofilm in any part of the water system
- Scale or sediment in any part of the water system
- Water temperature fluctuations
- pH variances
- Poor levels of disinfectant
- Variances in water pressure
- Stagnant water in any part of the water system
5) If you operate a healthcare facility, the stakes are even higher.
CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. stated, “Legionnaires’ disease in hospitals is widespread, deadly, and preventable. These data are especially important for healthcare facility leaders, doctors, and facility managers because it reminds them to think about the risks of Legionella in their facility and to take action. Controlling these bacteria in water systems can be challenging, but it is essential to protect patients.”
What Should You Do?
If you are concerned that you might have a Legionella problem in your facility, contact Legionella Control Systems immediately. Our Legionella experts can help to test your systems, identify issues in your water system, and remediate Legionella in both the short and long term.
Just as importantly, whether you have a current Legionella problem or not, you must have a water management plan. A professionally designed water management plan can help to reduce your legal risk while better protecting everyone in your facility. Don’t wait until you have a problem, reduce your risk now.
