Legionella At D.C. VA Hospital Cuts Off Water

The Washington D.C. VA Hospital lost water for a day after a patient tested positive for Legionella infection, according to an article on the Washington Post website.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said the water at the VA Medical Center was flushed and the water heated to eradicate any possible legionella bacteria. 

Normal operations resumed the next day, but the center will continue taking water samples and monitoring patients.

The hospital distributed bottled water, hand sanitizer and packaged wipes for bathing while the building’s water was unavailable.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many facilities were minimally occupied, leading to lower water usage and stagnant water within a facility’s potable water system, according to an article from Building Operating Management on the FacilitiesNet website. Stagnant water poses several health risks, including  Legionella 

Guidance on developing a building-specific water management plan is available on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website. 

Read the full Washington Post article.