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New Jersey Senate Bill S2188 introduces comprehensive measures to prevent and control Legionnaires' disease by regulating public water systems and requiring certain facilities to adopt enhanced water management practices.

As part of the new regulations set to take effect on July 12, 2024, Ohio Residential Care Facilities (RCFs) must now implement a mandatory water management program designed to manage the risk of waterborne pathogens, including Legionella. This update is outlined in Rule 3701-16-12, Section D of the Ohio Administrative Code.

Legionella, a type of bacteria, can thrive in man-made water systems, posing a serious health threat. It causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a flu-like illness. Fortunately, proactive maintenance strategies can significantly reduce the risk of Legionella growth in your water supply. This message will explore preventative maintenance practices and the crucial water quality parameters to monitor for optimal legionella control.

Legionella, a menacing bacterium lurking in water systems, poses a genuine threat, leading to severe lung infections like Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. While Legionella exists naturally in freshwater environments, its proliferation in man-made water systems such as cooling towers, hot tubs, and plumbing can result in health hazards.

Legionella sample results, ranging from "non-detectable" to "high," play a pivotal role in gauging the extent of Legionella growth, a key factor in the chain leading to Legionnaires' disease. The ultimate objective is to curtail the potential for bacterial amplification. While achieving 100% non-detectable samples may not be imperative, understanding and interpreting these levels are paramount.

Cooling towers are one of the most common places where Legionella can grow, as they provide the warm, moist environment that the bacteria needs to thrive. There are a number of different treatments that can be used to control Legionella in cooling tower water covered in our article.