Legionella Violations Found in NYC Cooling Towers
Since last year, health inspectors have flagged hundreds of cooling towers across New York City for issues related to Legionella testing, according to recent findings. The violations affected nearly 250 towers, with over half located in Manhattan. The Department of Health reported that Legionella samples were often not collected or analyzed as required by law.
In addition to Manhattan, 44 towers in Brooklyn, 22 in the Bronx, 19 in Queens, and one on Staten Island also faced similar penalties. This news follows a recent outbreak on the Upper East Side that affected over 63 individuals, with 52 requiring hospitalization.
Analysis by The Post revealed that more than half of the cooling towers in the areas impacted by the outbreak have received violations in the past year. Health Department spokesperson William Fowler noted that 73% of the cooling towers in the Upper East Side study area were providing the necessary information, while citywide compliance stands at 77%.
Fowler mentioned that all cooling towers that tested positive for Legionella are now undergoing full inspections. Some towers might not be providing information because they are either not operational or haven’t started operations yet.
Recent data highlighted 17 violations related to Legionnaires’ testing at a tower in Midtown East, along with 14 violations in Downtown Brooklyn and Hell’s Kitchen. Moreover, four repeat offenders in Midtown East, Greenpoint, Washington Heights, and Chelsea have been penalized multiple times this past year.
A new regulation implemented in May mandates that cooling towers be inspected monthly rather than every 90 days, with fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 for repeat offenses. However, members of Plumbers Local 1 argue that even these measures may not be sufficient to ensure public safety. They are urging the health department to implement more thorough testing protocols.
“Waiting until people are sick before testing is a failed reactive strategy,” the group, representing 6,000 city members, stated. They’re currently advocating for comprehensive water testing, including for domestic water supplies, every three to six months for larger facilities.
Paul O’Connor, business manager for UA Plumbers Local 1, emphasized that cooling towers are not the starting point of potential health crises. The recent outbreak on the Upper East Side originated from a cooling tower, not from the building’s water system. Nonetheless, approximately 100 New Yorkers are still affected by Legionnaires’ disease linked to building water systems each year.
