Prevention of legionellosis in cooling towers is most influenced by engineering design and maintenance practices of equipment that can harbor Legionella. Health units have been asked to provide guidance information for the prevention of Legionella in cooling towers and other water systems within their communities.
The greatest challenge has been establishing which buildings or facilities are equipped with vulnerable systems. Searches within the City of London have shown that, other than health care facilities such as hospitals and residential homes, there are no agencies which maintain a list of this equipment.
In response to this, the Health Unit conducted a literature search of other programs within Ontario. The City of Hamilton and Hamilton Public Health Services took measures in 2009 to initiate a by-law which requires building owners and operators to register their equipment, provide a risk management plan and maintain a log of all information related to that equipment. In partnership with the City of London Chief Building Official, the MLHU has decided to work with building owners and operators on a voluntary basis.
As Public Health representatives we strongly urge that all cooling tower/system owners and operators ensure that their cooling equipment is properly maintained according to ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and/or CTI (Cooling Technology Institute) industry best practices. See the Cooling Tower/System(s) Resource Materials web page for access to the standards recommended for use by these organizations.
What is the intent of the Cooling Tower Registration Project?
The intent of the Cooling Tower Registration Project is to have all cooling towers and systems registered with the Health Unit. In doing this we can:
- Assist owners/operators in the development of a risk management plan,
- Know who to contact during an outbreak, and
- Provide educational materials to the systems operators.
Additional Information
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