Steps to Avoid the Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease while Reopening

As our community begins to take steps to reopen, commercial buildings, vacated or underutilized for more than three weeks are at risk for a Legionnaires’ outbreak.  

Government and Public Health officers say that unless the water pipes are properly flushed and sanitized the lack of chlorinated water flowing through pipes mixed with unregulated temperature changes create an environment vulnerable to the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.

Example of Those at Risk:

• Schools
• Gyms
• Commercial Businesses and Government Offices
• Small Businesses
• Factories 
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Outpatient Surgical Centers

Legionnaires’ Disease is a waterborne illness that leads to pneumonia.  It infects people when Legionella bacteria is released into the air as an aerosol from water sources, such as hot tubs, showerheads, fountains, sprinkler systems and industrial water cooling systems.  

Most cases can be successfully cured with antibiotics and the illness cannot be spread from human to human contact but many cases also require hospitalization.   The disease attacks your lungs and has similar symptoms as coronavirus patients, including cough, chills and fever, making misdiagnosis possible so preventing the bacteria build up and exposure is important for both the health of occupants as well as minimizing additional strain to our Medical System.  

Spread of Legionnaires’ Disease is preventable with proper planning.  Globally, Water and Sanitation Associations are developing reopening standards.  

Recommendations include:

• Anyone servicing water pipes before reopening should take the same precautions as one might to prevent the spread of COVID-19: wear gloves and a mask. 
• Any device dormant during the shutdown and connected to a water system should be flushed.
• Building pipes that go more than one week with low or no occupancy should be thoroughly flushed for at least 30 minutes. 
• Test twice, 3-5 days after flushing and again two months later.

ACC’s Industrial Hygiene Team is available to discuss 
Reopening Planning for your Building. 

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