Legionnaire’s disease is a serious illness caused by the waterborne bacteria called Legionella. One way a person can become sick is by inhaling contaminated aerosolized water from improperly maintained building water systems.
In June 2015, ASHRAE published ASHRAE 188 – Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, which made Legionella water management programs a voluntary consensus standard for large buildings in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to determine if your facility needs a water management program to reduce the risk of Legionella amplification and spread, answer the following questions:
- Is your building a healthcare facility where patients stay overnight or does your building house or treat people who have chronic and acute medical problems or weakened immune systems?
- Does your building primarily house people older than 65 years (like a retirement home or assisted living facility)?
- Does your building have multiple housing units and a centralized hot water system (like a hotel or high-rise apartment complex)?
- Does your building have more than 10 stores (including basement levels)?
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, the CDC recommends that you have a water management program for that building’s hot and cold water distribution systems.
Buildings with devices that can spread contaminated water droplets should have a water management program, even if the building itself does not. If you answered “no” to all of questions 1 – 4, but “yes” to any of questions 5 – 8, the CDC recommends that you have a Water Management Plan for that device.
- Does your building have a cooling tower?
- Does your building have a hot tub (also known as a spa) that is not drained between each use?
- Does your building have a decorative fountain?
- Does your building have a centrally-installed mister, atomizer, air washer, or humidifier?
If you answered “no” to questions 1 – 8, the CDC recommends that you should still maintain water systems according to manufacturer recommendations.
For more information about Legionella risk, creating or maintaining a Water Treatment Program, or other ways in order to reduce your risk of Legionella amplification in your building’s water systems, contact the experts at Cogency at solutions@cogencyteam.com.