Legionnaires’ Outbreaks Reinforce the Need for Smart Water Management
Legionnaires’ disease — it sounds scary, and it is. Legionnaires’ is a life-threatening disease that spreads via water and water systems. In the past year, nearly 30 outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease caused 15 deaths. With proper water system management, 9 out of 10 Legionnaires’ outbreaks can be prevented.
Facility managers don’t need to panic. They need to prepare.
What is Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia, which is a lung inflammation usually triggered by an infection. In this case, the infection is caused by Legionella bacteria.
After infection, Legionnaires’ disease tends to develop within two to 10 days. Symptoms may include:
Headache.
Muscle aches.
Fever that may exceed 104 F.
Cough that may produce mucus or blood.
Chest pain.
Shortness of breath.
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Confusion, brain fog, or other mental changes.
These symptoms may unfold over several days, and additional risk factors include age, smoking, and a weakened immune system.
Most cases of Legionnaires’ disease occur when Legionella bacteria is inhaled via microscopic water droplets. Legionella can survive in both soil and water, and it can multiply in water systems.
Outbreak origins
Legionnaires’ outbreaks tend to occur in large buildings and facilities with complex water systems. Outbreaks are most commonly linked to:
Cooling towers.
Hot water tanks and heaters.
Decorative fountains.
Hot tubs.
Swimming pools.
Birthing pools.
Drinking water.
Most recent outbreaks were linked to large facilities, including hotels, hospitals, and detention centers. Some were related to cooling towers, water treatment plants, or even local pools.
In most cases, outbreaks can be prevented with good water management, but facility managers don’t always have the technology to identify risk factors before an outbreak begins.
Prevention
Proper water management can prevent most outbreaks. The CDC provides guidance on the elements of a successful water management program. These include:
Establishing a water management team.
Mapping facility water systems using text and flow diagrams.
Identifying high-risk areas where Legionella could grow and spread.
Deciding where control measures and monitoring would be most effective.
Establishing intervention procedures to use when control limits are not met.
Ensuring your program is running effectively and as designed.
Documenting and communicating all water management activity.
With the right technology, all this can be managed in one simple, centralized system. Sensors and software can connect your entire water system and integrate relevant water data into one streamlined dashboard. Facility managers can identify risks, prevent problems, and receive real-time alerts when action is required.
Smart water system management
Smart, connected, state-of-the-art technology makes all the difference for water safety and management. Aquanomix’s Symphony™ Software Suite works with fine-tuned sensor technology to immediately identify potential Legionella contamination and send alerts to your water management team. When facility managers are empowered with real-time data, they can respond quickly to prevent outbreaks.
Recent Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks have put facility managers on edge, but with smart water management, you can protect your facility from outbreaks and stay prepared for any risks to your water system.
Investing in innovative, state-of-the-art solutions will reduce Legionella risk and ensure a clean, safe, and efficient water system.
Protect your facility with real-time visibility. Learn more at aquanomix.com.