Which Apartment Buildings in Puerto Rico Could be at Risk of an Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease?

There were a number of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease across the United States last year that are believed to have been linked to water systems in apartment buildings. People can develop this potentially fatal disease when they breathe in Legionella bacteria that has been aerosolized in small droplets of water.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that many buildings need a water management program to reduce the risk of Legionella growing and spreading within their water system and devices. The agency goes on to state that Legionella can grow in many parts of building water systems that are continually wet, and certain devices can then spread contaminated water droplets. Examples include:

• Hot and cold water storage tanks
• Water heaters
• Water-hammer arrestors
• Expansion tanks
• Water filters
• Electronic and manual faucets*
• Aerators
• Faucet flow restrictors
• Showerheads* and hoses
• Pipes, valves, and fittings
• Centrally-installed misters*, atomizers*, air washers* and humidifiers*
• Nonsteam aerosol-generating humidifiers*
• Infrequently used equipment, including eyewash stations*
• Ice machines*
• Hot tubs*
• Decorative fountains*
• Cooling towers*
• Medical devices* (such as CPAP machines, hydrotherapy equipment, bronchoscopes)

*These devices can spread Legionella through aerosols or aspiration
 
“Apartment buildings and condo complexes have many of the risk factors listed by the CDC and should have a water management program to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease for residents, workers and other building occupants,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This is especially true in places with people 50 years or older, current or former smokers, and with people with chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system because these populations are considered to be at increased risk of getting this infection.”
 
To help prevent Legionnaires’ disease, property managers and building owners in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean have access to some of the region’s leading Legionella experts at Zimmetry Environmental. Their environmental and indoor air quality (IAQ) professionals offer consulting services to develop and manage water management programs and they provide comprehensive Legionella testing services that are an essential part of a proactive plan.
 
To learn more about Zimmetry’s air, water, environmental, occupational, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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