LiquiTech Applauds CDC for Stand on Water Management Plans, Legionella Testing
New report, toolkit point to need for immediate action by building
owners and managers to prevent outbreaks of often-deadly Legionnaires’
disease
LOMBARD, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Noting a 370% increase in Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks since 2000,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called on building
owners and property managers to better monitor and control the risks
associated with their drinking and service water systems.
“As a company that has specialized in Legionella prevention and
remediation for more than a quarter century, we have witnessed firsthand
the increase in Legionnaire’s disease across the country, leading to
needless suffering and loss of life,” said Tory Schira, LiquiTech’s COO.
“We commend the CDC for making such a clear statement that water
management planning, environmental testing and control measures are
needed to stop the scourge of a deadly disease.”
Analyzing 27 CDC investigations of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks, the
CDC found that potable (drinking) water distribution systems were the
most frequent source of exposure, at 56% of cases, followed by cooling
towers (22%), hot tubs (7%), industrial equipment (4%) and a decorative
fountain (one outbreak). Potable water sources accounted for two-thirds
of healthcare-associated outbreaks.
Forty-four percent of the outbreaks investigated by the CDC were at
hotels and resorts, 19% at long-term-care facilities and 15% at
hospitals (the others were among senior living facilities, workplaces
and the community).
“We are particularly glad to see an acknowledgment that cooling towers
are far from the only way people contract Legionnaires’ – a common
misconception,” Schira said. “Cooling towers have certainly been the
source of some serious outbreaks, including in New York City last year,
but as we at LiquiTech have found over the course of many years,
drinking water is actually the bigger threat to human health and demands
action to protect people and organizations.”
The CDC specifically endorsed the new ASHRAE 188 building code
standards, which establish minimum requirements for management of the
risk for Legionella growth and transmission in building water
systems. Gaps in maintenance that could be addressed with a water
management program to prevent Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks were
described in 85% of 27 investigated outbreaks. In the majority of
outbreaks, inadequate water disinfectant levels and temperatures in the
optimal range for Legionella growth were observed; implementing a
functional water management program could address these deficiencies
through routine monitoring of disinfectant levels and water temperature,
the CDC found.
The CDC released a new
toolkit for building owners and managers, “Developing a Water
Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth & Spread in
Buildings: A Practical Guide to Implementing Industry Standards.” Based
on ASHRAE 188, the toolkit provides a checklist to help identify if a
water management program is needed, examples to help identify where Legionella
could grow and spread in a building, and ways to reduce the risk of Legionella
contamination.
Specifically, the CDC for the first time endorsed environmental testing
for Legionella to validate the effectiveness of control measures,
and noted that such testing ought to be provided in any healthcare
facility, as older and sicker people are most susceptible to contracting
Legionnaires’ disease.
“We have waited a long time for the CDC to recognize the need for
testing the water,” Schira said. “You cannot effectively carry out a
successful water management program if you don’t know the nature of the
problem you are facing. What gets measured can get addressed.”
All of the elements in the toolkit and ASHRAE 188 standards are
addressed by LiquiTech’s complete water management solutions, Schira
noted. The company employs a multi-barrier approach to secure water
systems against a range of waterborne pathogens. “We are ready to help
any building owner or facilities manager meet the challenges laid down
by the CDC and ASHRAE,” he said.
About LiquiTech
Founded in 1989, LiquiTech is a pioneer in highly effective technologies
and services that secure water delivery systems against waterborne
pathogen risks. We provide the industry’s most comprehensive water
solutions platform, while meeting the unique needs of each facility. Our
solutions include multi-barrier protection; water management plans;
filtration; secondary disinfection; water analysis, testing and
validation; and real-time, cloud-based monitoring and control systems
supported by specialized engineers. LiquiTech’s copper silver ionization
disinfection technology is supported by more than 100 independent
research studies and is state and federal EPA-registered for the
eradication of Legionella in drinking water. Our clients include
healthcare, hospitality, commercial, industrial and government
facilities, with more than 1,600 installations around the world.
LiquiTech is a veteran-owned company.
Contacts
Cie Idrizi
Public Relations Director
LiquiTech
630-693-0500
cidrizi@liquitech.net
