Healthcare facilities are the most heavily regulated buildings in New York, and therefore it is critical to ensure there are no harmful bacteria levels, especially in the water systems. Cooling towers are primary targets of legionella growth, which can lead to several patients and healthcare workers getting sick. At Tower Water, we understand the importance of ensuring individuals are safe indoors, primarily in healthcare facilities, and offer several legionella compliance and remediation services to abide by the City and State of New York legislation and ultimately reduce the risk of individuals developing Legionnaires’ disease.
Obtaining Compliance In Healthcare Facilities
To obtain compliance with New York City, according to Local Law 77 of 2015, your facility must have a cooling tower or water system inspection every 90 days, as well as legionella testing. The inspection is to prove that the systems are running properly, the water control levels are appropriate and there are no dangerous chemicals or bacteria present. In order to comply with both the City and State, you must register your cooling towers and upload annual certification reports to their respective online portals. Tower Water will assist you in the legionella reporting aspect to make sure you comply with the New York laws.
Ensuring The Safety Of Patients And Workers
Despite several regulations being enforced by New York City and New York State, reported cases of legionella-related illnesses to continue to rise. Because of this, Tower Water aims to go above and beyond the general requirements set forth by the local and state governments. We offer comprehensive legionella risk assessment and management programs for cooling towers and other building-wide water systems to further lower the risk of legionella growth. In addition to providing the utmost care for your healthcare facility, we work to ensure your facility:
- Has properly protected HVAC equipment to improve efficiency and extend equipment life through dictation of proper treatment levels
- Monitor proper bacteria and legionella levels that meet and/or exceed local and state legionella laws
- Has short term and long term plans in place to protect facility infrastructure
- Has a significant reduction and/or removal of violations related to legionella compliance
- Promotes safe legionella levels that meet and/or exceed local and state guidelines
Working With A Legionella Compliance Expert
Many healthcare facilities utilize cooling tower vendors for their cooling tower systems, especially in the greater New York Metropolitan Area. Since the adoption of new legionella-based regulations in 2015, both the City and State Departments of Health have made several modifications to the legislation and are expected to implement future laws that require legionella services to be performed by a company separate from their existing water treatment vendor. Therefore, it is important to work with a legionella compliance organization that understands all aspects of testing and compliance to keep up with these changes.
Contact Tower Water Today
If you own or maintain a healthcare facility and do not yet work with a legionella compliance organization or are unsure whether you comply, reach out to Tower Water. The legionella compliance services offered for healthcare facilities will help keep your building within regulations. Our team has extensive experience conducting proper testing and ensuring water treatment levels are ideal for reducing legionella growth and accumulation.
Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring the safety of patients and healthcare workers alike and will focus all our energy toward eliminating the possibility of Legionnaires’ disease. For more information or to get started, call Tower Water at (212) 729-9361 or schedule a consultation online today.