Where To Look
When conducting your building water system investigation, walk-through, or risk assessment use this section to help you identify all potential Legionella reservoirs in the building. If conducting an investigation due a suspected case or outbreak, also survey the surrounding neighborhood to identify any cooling towers, wastewater treatment facilities, storm water/gray water re-use facilities (i.e. golf course spray irrigation water systems), or ornamental fountains that may be located near the building in question. If necessary, obtain permission to sample these off-the-property. Also identify and visually inspect all the building fresh-air intakes/pedestrian walkways with respect to these neighborhood locations.
- Potable water systems
- Cooling towers
- Water walls
- Aerosol generation during the biological treatment of some industrial process wastewater streams ie., pulp and paper manufacturing, food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Aerosol generation during municipal water and wastewater treatment
- Raw, utility or fire water
- Ornamental outdoor and indoor water fountains and ponds
- In-home birthing pools
- Hot tubs
- Humidifiers/CPAP Machine Water Reservoirs
- Metal working fluids
- Medical therapy equipment like dialysis units, nasogastric tubes, respiratory equipment and nebulizers, whirlpool baths
- Commercial car wash facilities particularly those using recycled water
- Supermarket vegetable misters
- Ice machines in hotels and hospitals
- Outdoor body misters at ballparks and amusement parks
- Use of tap water in place of manufactured windshield cleaner fluid
- Fog Machines
- Ultrasonic Dental Descalers
- Storm water/gray water spray irrigation systems
- Street cleaning machines