Resources
Educational articles on Legionella, water management, and infection prevention from the Water Management Advisors team.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the main restrictions in public spaces was removing access to drinking fountains. Now that things are starting to open back up, facilities are looking to determine how to reopen drinking fountains safely and reduce the risk of Legionella growth that may have occurred during periods of stagnation.
Summertime is a key time for Legionnaires' disease cases. Wet, humid weather seems to correlate with cases of Legionnaires' disease (Gleason et al., 2016). Water temperatures are warmer and begin to approach the optimal growth range for Legionella, making vigilance and proactive water management especially important during summer months.
This past January, waterborne pathogens were featured as the topic of focus for the "Consistent Interpretations" column in Joint Commission Perspectives. The objective of this column is to gather feedback from surveyors on common findings and provide guidance to help facilities maintain compliance and reduce risk.
Building water systems can vary in type and size, depending on the type of building. There are also certain characteristics of water systems that can be more conducive to Legionella growth. A comprehensive Legionella water management plan addresses these characteristics to reduce risk effectively.
Water management plans in healthcare facilities look to reduce risk of illness by waterborne pathogens. The normal areas of concern are those linked to hot water systems, including hot water tanks and hot water distribution — but some unexpected items may also harbor risk.
There is much talk on the risk level for plumbing systems in larger buildings such as healthcare facilities, but what about residential homes? Determining risk level in your home involves understanding the characteristics of your plumbing system and the conditions that support Legionella growth.
In 2015, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) released ASHRAE Standard 188. This standard covers the measures needed to reduce risk of Legionella within facilities. The standard applies to a wide range of building types and water system configurations.
Legionella water management plans can be confusing to some. Below you will find a quick overview of the key points to a Legionella water management plan — covering who, what, when, where, and why to help facilities understand their obligations and next steps.
Legionella is a bacterium that causes a severe illness called Legionnaires' disease. Legionnaires' disease is an infection of the lungs that occurs when a person breathes in contaminated water droplets. Understanding the basics of Legionella is the first step toward effective prevention and water management.
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