Legionella Resources

Legionella Risks

In potable and non-potable water systems Legionella is a common bacteria. The liability for attempting to control and test for Legionella rests on the building owner. With Legionella testing, treatment, and water management plans, the risk is significantly reduced.

 

Legionella Information

The last several years have brought about some profound changes to the issues facing facility managers and directors.  Among them is managing risk associated with proper cooling tower care and the potential for Legionnaires Disease.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports confirm that the frequency of cases continues to rise each year and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other regulatory agencies have made it clear that many water systems within facilities should be taking a proactive approach to managing this risk.

In response to an industry-wide plea for standard measures for Legionella control, the Association of Water Technologies (AWT) recently issued guidance.  AWT is widely regarded as the water treatment industry’s primary resource for credible and effective guidelines. We feel that it is important to communicate their guidance to you. Click the button/link below to download the Association of Water Technologies’ Position Statement & Guidance Document on Legionella.

AWT's Position Statement & Guidance on Legionella

It’s clear that every cooling tower system is different in design, risk for contamination and exposure to human life.  Accordingly, Chardon establishes programs with the flexibility to meet the diverse needs of the facilities while recommending the practices outlined in AWT’s guidelines.  In addition to our long-standing approaches to service, optimization, and scale and corrosion management, the guidance from AWT addresses biological control and documentation up to the level deemed necessary to control Legionella growth within your cooling tower system.  It provides testing and remediation procedures as well as guidance on maintenance practices needed to meet the standard.

 

Woman testing for Legionella in a lab.

Additional Legionella Information

Below is our curated list of external resources that offer more information on Legionella. If you are not currently a Chardon Labs customer and would like to talk to a Chardon representative about our treatment services and our water management plans offerings, please give us a call or fill out our contact form and a representative will be in touch.

Our Legionella Testing & Control Services

It’s clear that every cooling tower system is different in design, risk for contamination and exposure to human life.  Accordingly, Chardon establishes programs with the flexibility to meet the diverse needs of the facilities while recommending the practices outlined in AWT’s guidelines.

In addition to our long-standing approaches to service, optimization, and scale and corrosion management, the guidance from AWT addresses biological control and documentation up to the level deemed necessary to control Legionella growth within your cooling tower system.  It provides testing and remediation procedures as well as guidance on maintenance practices needed to meet the standard.

Contact Us To Learn More

Describes a Legionella water management plan. It also shows how Legionnaires' disease is becoming more common.

Laws on Legionella

  • New York State Department of Health regulations for Legionella in cooling towers and potable water in healthcare facilities.
  • New York City government website; Chapter 8 (Cooling Towers) of Title 24 of the Rules of the City of New York.
  • HSE (Health Safety Executive), U.K. website that provides practical advice and guidance to control the risks from exposure to Legionella in manmade water systems and the U.K. requirements (duties) under regulation.
  • Government of Canada website;  “Legionella in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems”. Part II, Division III titled “HVAC Systems,” which contains requirements regarding HVAC systems, such as standards, records, operation, inspection, cleaning, testing, maintenance, and investigations.

Guidelines on Legionella

  • ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.) website. ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, “Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems” and latest position and guideline papers on Legionellosis.
  • AWT (Association of Water Technologies) website; information about water treatment and Legionella.
  • CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website; links to over 2,500 results for Legionella, including the latest revision of the Model Aquatic Health Code.
  • CTI (Cooling Technology Institute) website, formerly the Cooling Tower Institute; download the latest position papers on Legionella.
  • OHSA website; search and get OSHA Legionnaires’ disease information, including the latest manual (Section III, Chapter 22 Legionella 2019: A Position Statement and Guidance Document 7) on Legionnaires’ disease.

Healthcare Guidelines on Legionella

Additional Resources on Legionella

How We Can Help

We are a commercial water treatment and chemical supplier that offers services in 13 different states throught the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.  We specialize in treating boiler systems, cooling towers and closed-loop systems in a variety of industries.

If you have additional questions or would like to speak to us about how we can assist in your Legionella concerns, please give us a call or fill out our contact form and a representative will be in touch.

Portrait of Matt Welsh, the co-president
Matt Welsh
Vice President, Water Consultant at Chardon Labs | Website | + posts

Matt Welsh is the Vice President and Water Consultant at Chardon Labs.  He helps consult a wide range of customers utilizing various methods of water treatment, from chemical to chemical-free approaches, large and small applications, and across a wide range of geographical influences.  With 20 years of water treatment experience, including a wide range of troubleshooting and service in potable water and non-potable HVAC and industrial applications, he is an expert in water treatment chemistry for cooling towers, boilers, and closed-loop systems.

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