Council Member Dr. Chad Seidel is featured in a new Circle of Blue article examining why Legionnaires’ disease continues to be the deadliest waterborne illness in the United States. The piece highlights the continued rise in cases, the conditions that allow Legionella bacteria to grow, and the difficulty of managing risk within building water systems. As Chad notes, “Legionella is the most substantial public health concern we are addressing, and need to better address, related to drinking water.”
Legionella can enter a buildings’ plumbing system and grow when water becomes warm, stagnant, or inadequately disinfected. Features such as long or oversized pipes, unstable temperature control, and low-flow areas increase the chance that water will sit long enough for bacteria to multiply. Because they have more extensive and complicated plumbing, facilities like hospitals and multifamily buildings face a higher risk unless their systems are actively managed.
Those who inhale contaminated aerosols can develop Legionnaires’ disease, which is almost 7-10% fatal, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems. The article underscores that preventing the conditions that allow Legionella to grow is far more protective than responding after an outbreak occurs.
Chad emphasizes that managing Legionella requires coordination across the full water pathway: utilities must maintain disinfectant levels throughout distribution, and building owners and designers must ensure internal systems are properly managed. As he notes, “Everybody that uses water along the way – from the source all the way to the tap, the water utility to the customer – has to play their role in mitigating those risks.” Each building’s plumbing configuration and operating practices shape its risk profile, making a consistent management approach essential.
Safeguarding public health requires attention to how water behaves inside buildings, in addition to how it is treated at the plant or delivered through the distribution system. The article reinforces that preventing Legionella growth depends on shared diligence and a system-wide approach.
Read the full article here: