The Association of Water Technologies (AWT), an international association, recently released a paper on Legionella and how to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ Disease from water systems. It addresses the alarming increase in Legionnaires’ cases throughout regions of the United States.

Cases reported to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention increased 43 percent to a total of 624 so far this year, compared to 436 for the same period last year. Some regions have double or triple the amount reported.

The AWT paper, “Legionella 2003: An Update and Statement by AWT” offers an overview of Legionella and the disease including a history of the disease, sources and transmission, and testing and treatment.

The paper is available as a free download from AWT’s Web site www.awt.org/Legionella03.pdf, and will be presented at the 2003 AWT Water Technologies Convention and Expo in Phoenix in September.