Protect Your Cooling Towers from Legionella

The risk of contracting Legionella from cooling tower neglect is no secret. New York began requiring quarterly inspections in 2015, and OSHA addresses risk and prevention. So what is Legionella? How do people acquire it, and how can we prevent it? 

Legionella in Cooling Towers

Legionella is a bacteria found in freshwater. It can also build up in water systems such as cooling towers, according to the CDC. A properly working cooling tower will pull debris out of the air. As it settles and grows, biocides are no longer able to reach the bacteria. Additionally, algae and scale buildup will feed the Legionella bacteria.

Spreading Legionella

The fans on cooling towers create mist. According to Retrofit Magazine, “A typical 1,000-ton refrigeration system with standard mist eliminators will release 6.3 gallons of water into the air every hour.” This mist releases the bacteria as they come and go from buildings with affected water coolers.

Preventing the Problem

Fortunately, there are safeguards to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella.

Regular maintenance and testing go a long way to address the issue. 

Installing basin sweepers prevent sedimentation buildup in the system. 

Adding mist eliminators limit mist exposure, increasing protection.

We created HiTech Solutions and worked with myheartcreative to build a website to bring awareness and solutions to problems such as this. While Legionella is a serious issue, we have the skills and resources necessary to prevent it from becoming a problem for you. Contact us to learn more.