Items Tagged with 'legionella control'

How material selection, flow dynamics, temperature control and commissioning practices influence microbial and Legionella risk.

While the risk of Legionella exists across many types of buildings, healthcare and long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable. These buildings often have large, complex plumbing systems with extensive pipe networks, variable water usage, and numerous fixtures, all of which can create conditions conducive to bacterial growth if not properly managed. As a result, even well-designed and well-maintained systems require ongoing attention to minimize risk.

ASHRAE has shared resources to help educate and mitigate the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.

Three people have died from the disease outbreak, and more than 20 have been hospitalized, according to the latest data from CNN.

Spenser Johnson to present "Navigating Evolving Water Management Regulations: Ensuring Compliance & Public Safety” Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 11:00 am CDT.

Despite being the oldest and most widely accepted technique for the detection of Legionella bacteria, it is well documented that lab culture testing has many limitations. Foremost, most lab culture tests take 7-10 days to return results. Yet Legionella can double in a day. 

Sustainability in commercial plumbing focuses on modern pipe sizing to reduce material use and Legionella risk. Efficient layouts and lower-carbon materials like PEX and recycled PVC can lower greenhouse gas emissions, while improved equipment efficiency and training help reduce operational and embodied carbon emissions.

In my January column, I began a series focused on chemical and non-chemical additives or technologies that I treat as “must consider” for plumbing engineers in their design practices to reduce the risk of legionella bacteria developing in the domestic water system.