After a 2015 summer outbreak of Legionnaires’ in the Bronx, the New York City Council passed legislation that requires all cooling towers to be registered, tested and disinfected if Legionella is found.
The focus on cooling towers may be too narrow. In a number of Legionnaires’ outbreaks, the pathology of the disease shows there are other areas that carry a higher risk for being a source of infection, according to an article on the FacilityCare website.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015 guidelines incorporate the whole building water system, not just the cooling towers.
The guidance includes information on the design, maintenance and operation of building water systems, including potable and emergency water systems, heated spas, architectural fountains and waterfall systems, cooling towers, direct and indirect evaporative air coolers, atomizers, air washers and humidifiers.
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