Legionella: A Rising Threat to Water Management Health & Safety

Over the past 14 years, there has been a steady incline of Legionnaires Disease, due to the contamination of water management systems nationwide. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by bacteria, called Legionella, that live in water. If not managed properly, your water system could be contributing to the problem.

Legionella water management programs are now an industry standard for large buildings in the United States (ASHRAE 188: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems June 26, 2015. ASHRAE: Atlanta). Because building water systems often vary in their design and complexity, it is important to develop a water management program that reduces the growth and spread of Legionella, that is specific to your building.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Sciences, healthcare facilities are especially at risk. In the United States, reported cases of Legionnaries’ disease have increased, “nearly four times since 2000. More illness occurs in the summer and early fall but can happen any time of year” (National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System).

Over the next few weeks, Alliance Environmental Group and Airtek Indoor Solutions will discuss and outline the importance of developing a comprehensive water management system; which will help reduce the spread and growth of Legionella. If you already have a program in place, these tips will help you assess and strengthen it. The tips offered will include practical resources to help you ensure that your water management system is not only effective, but in line with industry standards.

For additional information about Legionnaires’ disease, visit: www.cdc.gov/legionella.

About Alliance Environmental

With more than 75 years of experience, Alliance Environmental Group, Inc. is one of the leading environmental contractors in California. Alliance Environmental provides innovative solutions in the areas of asbestos, lead, and mold abatement; air and HVAC duct cleaning; heat treatment for pest control; structural pasteurization; demolition and emergency response. The company has successfully completed more than 120,000 remediation projects in California and surrounding areas. For more information, go to www.alliance-enviro.com.