The Office of the Inspector General has issued a memorandum requiring immediate action to address the risk of Legionella contamination in water systems across GSA-controlled buildings. This directive comes in response to the detection of elevated levels of Legionella bacteria in water systems at six GSA-controlled buildings across four different GSA regions since July 11, 2023. Legionella bacteria are the primary cause of Legionnaires’ disease, a severe respiratory illness. Reduced building occupancy levels have contributed to water stagnation, which creates ideal conditions for Legionella growth and spread, increasing the risk of contamination in other buildings.
Legionella bacteria naturally occur in small amounts in freshwater environments. However, when these bacteria grow and multiply in human-made water systems, they can pose significant health risks. Legionella can cause severe lung infections known as Legionnaires’ disease, making it essential to implement preventive measures in buildings to safeguard occupant health.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to implementing effective Legionella control in GSA-controlled buildings:
The first step in preventing Legionella is to assess your building’s water systems to identify any that may be at increased risk for Legionella growth. Factors that elevate the risk include:
A comprehensive water management program is essential for preventing and controlling Legionella. Key components of the program should include:
To reduce Legionella growth and spread in the water system, implement the following control measures:
Regular monitoring and evaluation are critical to ensuring the effectiveness of your Legionella contamination control program. This should include:
Training and education are crucial for ensuring that all staff involved in building maintenance understand the risks of Legionella contamination and know how to implement proper control measures. This training should cover:
By following these steps, you can effectively prevent Legionella contamination in your GSA-controlled buildings and protect the health of your occupants. ChemREADY is here to support you in implementing these measures. Contact us today for assistance with your facility.
Legionella is a bacteria that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe respiratory illness. It becomes a concern in GSA-controlled buildings when water systems allow the bacteria to grow and spread, especially under conditions like water stagnation due to reduced occupancy.
A building may be at risk if it has hot-water systems with temperatures between 20°C and 50°C, dead-ends or stagnant water in plumbing, low water flow, or biofilms and corrosion in the water system. Assessing these factors can help determine the risk.
A comprehensive water management program should include regular temperature monitoring, maintenance of water systems, cleaning and disinfection procedures, regular Legionella testing, and corrective actions if contamination is detected.
Key control measures include maintaining hot-water temperatures at or above 50°C, keeping cold-water temperatures below 20°C, disinfecting with chlorine or other approved disinfectants, flushing stagnant water, and cleaning water-using devices.
Staff training ensures that everyone involved in building maintenance understands the risks of Legionella and knows how to implement the water management program, control measures, and monitoring procedures effectively.
