Understand The Risk Of Stagnant Water To Reopen With Safety And Reliabilty

By Jared Gabel, Business Development Manager, Grundfos USA

The year 2020 has marked a time when the risk of disease has altered plans for how we work, shop, learn and travel. As the work force re-enters offices and more industrial and commercial facilities reopen, there looms another risk waiting in our water systems – Legionella.

Legionella bacteria is common in wet and humid environments where temperatures range from 77°F - 108°F. Legionella bacteria can be the cause of two illnesses in humans: Legionnaires’ disease, an infection that produces pneumonia; and Pontiac fever, which resembles acute influenza. Infection occurs after inhaling a fine aerosol of contaminated water droplets. Typical sources of infection are cooling towers in large central air conditioning systems, whirlpools and showers.