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WATER SAFETY
Premier
Water & Energy Technology, Inc. understands
the importance of controlling the growth of Legionella
and other pathogenic organisms in aquatic systems and is committed to helping
minimize the risk of waterborne infections including
Legionnaires’ disease. Cooling towers, evaporative condensers, condensate
drain pans, shower heads, misters, spas, and many other
environments are known to be potential sources for the
strains of bacteria that cause legionellosis. Pathogenic bacteria and the health
risks they represent can be minimized with a detailed
and properly executed Water Safety Management Plan. |
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The following page
contains articles on:
"History of Legionella"
"Modes of Transmission"
"Legal Aspects"
"Legionella Management"
"Who is at Risk"
"Premier's Water Safety Management Plan"
"Other Resources"
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History
of Legionella |
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Legionnaire’s Disease was
named after an outbreak of severe pneumonia at an American Legionnaire’s
conference in 1976. The
causative agent, known as Legionella, found its way into the air
conditioning system and caused illness in 221 people of which 34 were
fatal. These 34 people who fell
ill to Legionella were not immuno-compromised, so it is erroneous to
simply think that only immuno-compromised people are at risk.
In 1985 it
was discovered that potable water systems are a major source for Legionella,
and not simply cooling towers. In
2000, ASHRAE produced a comprehensive guideline entitled Minimizing
the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems.
In 2005, JCAHO required that hospitals establish specific plans to
control infectious diseases. |
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modes
of transmission |
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Legionella is a type of bacteria that primarily occurs in warm
water-systems. There are over
40 species of Legionella with as many 60 serogroups. The most virulent
serogroup is serogroup 1, known as Legionella
pneumphilla
Legionella is a water-born pathogen that must be inhaled.
Legionella can either be a free floating pathogen in water, or it
can be carried through the protozoa in water (protozoa would be used as hosts),
or it has also been known to live in the deposit in pipes. Many times when
biofilm or deposit is loosened or stirred up a high legionella’s count can be
found in the water system.
Legionella can be found in dead-leg piping, stagnant water, valves
(especially rubber
or plastic valves), and in biofilm and sediment. |
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legal
aspects |
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Lawsuit
targets: facility owner, maintenance personnel, system designer, installation
contractors,
other contractors
“One
thing is certain following a Legionella outbreak: somebody is getting sued.
For example, in 1994
several passengers on the Celebrity Cruise ship Horizon contracted
Legionnaires’ disease while relaxing
in the ship’s whirlpool spa. After years of litigation, the passengers were
awarded, as a group,
$190 million in damages…”
“The
most successful theory for most Legionella plaintiffs is negligence…”
“In
order to prove the tort of negligence, the Plaintiff must prove that each of the
following is more likely
than not:
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The
Defendant owed the Plaintiff a duty to prevent harm;
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The
Defendant breached that duty;
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The
Defendant’s breach of duty caused the Plaintiff some harm.
Once
a duty to prevent harm is established, whether the Defendant breached that duty
will typically turn
on whether the Defendant acted with “reasonable care” …”
“...
to ensure there is no doubt that you exercised “reasonable care,”
significant steps should be taken to
identify and appropriately treat all potential sources of Legionella…”
Source:
Hans A. Nilges, Esq., Attorney with Brouse McDowell law firm, Ohio and Active
Member, Association of
Water Technologies
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LEGIONELLA
MANAGEMENT |
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Disinfection can be done as needed or continuously. Some methods are used as short-term disinfection while others are installed for more permanent and
continuous disinfection.
Short Term Disinfection:
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Heat and
Flush |
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Chlorination |
Long Term Disinfection:
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UV
Radiation |
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Ozonation |
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Copper-Silver
ionization |
To the right is an
example of the flow of a Water Safety Management Plan that will help
determine if Short Term or Long Term Disinfection is right for your
facility.
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WHO
IS AT RISK? |
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The most susceptible people
are persons with suppressed immune systems such
as transplant patients, patients with HIV/AIDS, patients recovering from
surgery, persons above the age of 55, and young children below the age of 2.
However, as mentioned above, the people who fell ill during the
Legionnaire’s Conference in 1976 were not immuno-compromised.
Even though the possibility is dramatically lower, healthy
individuals can still be infected with Legionnaire’s Disease. |
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PREMIER'S
WATER SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN |
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Premier
Water and Energy Technology, Inc., recognizes the need to develop and
implement water safety management plans. Premier is dedicated to working
with customers to develop a plan that best suits their facility. A water
safety management plan will not only allow the facilities water to meet
forthcoming standards by the CDC, OSHA, ASHRAE, JCAHO, BOMA, CTI, and AWT,
but may also limit liability in case of an outbreak.
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OTHER
RESOURCES |
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For more information
about Legionella and current standards please visit the following websites:
ASHRAE - www.ashrae.org
Association of Water Technologies (AWT) - www.awt.org
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) - www.boma.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - www.cdc.gov
Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) - www.cti.org
European Union (EU) - www.eurunion.org
Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) - www.jointcommission.org
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - www.osha.gov
World Health Organization (WHO) - www.who.int
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For
more information on Premier's Water Safety Management Plan, please contact your
Water Treatment Consultant or Nathan Riley at nriley@premierwater.com.
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