It’s In The Air

The year was 1994 and that summer a suspected 50 people on cruises visiting Bermuda had developed Legionnaires’ Disease or related symptoms. The investigation linked the outbreak to a spa on the ship itself. The cause was legionella bacteria that had proliferated in a sand filter and spread via aerosols generated from the whirlpool. The bacteria were also found in other areas of the ship’s water supply. This was a classic case of a waterborne pathogen creating waterborne illness.

When people think of waterborne pathogens, thoughts of “Montezuma’s Revenge” from ingesting something are common, but rarely do they link waterborne pathogens with respiratory problems, headaches, or fever.

Legionella are bacteria naturally found in the environment. In the built environment, specifically in water systems, they can proliferate and spread via water droplets. These droplets could be from a basic shower head, a spa or even a cooling tower on a building. Once these droplets are inhaled, they can cause illnesses like Pontiac Fever or the more severe Legionnaires’ Disease.

The deceptive thing about the symptoms is that they present as a typical flu within a few hours or days. Symptoms such as fever, muscle cramps, or a headache are common. And just as fast as they come, they usually clear up within a week, so many people do not seek medical attention or have their condition recorded with health officials. For those less fortunate, the additional symptom of pneumonia presents itself and legionellosis develops. It is at this stage that most seek medical treatment and tests for legionella are performed.

Who’s At Risk

For Pontiac Fever, pretty much anyone is at risk. For legionellosis, the elderly, smokers, and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of legionella growth, use heat, chemical, or UV disinfection on water systems. For cold water lines, keep the temperature under 20 degrees Celsius or above 50 degrees Celsius for hot lines. As discussed in an earlier post, remove, treat, or flush all dead legs and dead ends – water turnover is your friend.

If you are responsible for the maintenance of a facility and would like further assistance with reducing the risk of legionella, get in touch with us here at Wet Work. Let our experience help to put your mind at ease. We can provide all of the above disinfection types or advise on flush schedules to keep your water system safe.