Legionnaires' Outbreak: Important Information for Buildings with Cooling Towers
As a result of the recent outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease, the NYC Department of Health has issued an Order requiring those who manage buildings with water-recirculating cooling towers in New York City to take the following actions:
1. Obtain the services of an environmental consultant with demonstrated experience performing disinfection in accordance with current standard industry protocols; and
2. Under supervision of the environmental consultant, evaluate the cooling tower and associated equipment for the presence of organic material, biofilm, algae and other visible contaminants; and regardless of the outcome, direct the environmental consultant to carry out a disinfection/treatment sufficient to remove organic material, biofilm, algae and other contaminants and disinfect in a manner sufficient to control for the presence of Legionella organisms within 14 days; and
3. Maintain records on-site of the consultant’s inspection and remediation, and make them available upon request.
4. If an identical assessment and any disinfection procedure has been conducted at a building within the past 30 days, you do not need to comply with items 1-3 above. However, you must maintain records on-site of the consultant’s inspection and remediation, and make them available upon request.
FirstService Residential property managers have already begun arranging water treatment service for our managed properties that have cooling towers.
Click here to read the full Order.
Additional information is available on the NYC Department of Health website.
1. Obtain the services of an environmental consultant with demonstrated experience performing disinfection in accordance with current standard industry protocols; and
2. Under supervision of the environmental consultant, evaluate the cooling tower and associated equipment for the presence of organic material, biofilm, algae and other visible contaminants; and regardless of the outcome, direct the environmental consultant to carry out a disinfection/treatment sufficient to remove organic material, biofilm, algae and other contaminants and disinfect in a manner sufficient to control for the presence of Legionella organisms within 14 days; and
3. Maintain records on-site of the consultant’s inspection and remediation, and make them available upon request.
4. If an identical assessment and any disinfection procedure has been conducted at a building within the past 30 days, you do not need to comply with items 1-3 above. However, you must maintain records on-site of the consultant’s inspection and remediation, and make them available upon request.
FirstService Residential property managers have already begun arranging water treatment service for our managed properties that have cooling towers.
Click here to read the full Order.
Additional information is available on the NYC Department of Health website.