New National Study Starts on Management of Legionella in Water Systems

On Thursday, February 8th, the first meeting (with a public session) was held by a new Committee of the Water Science and Technology Board (WSTB) of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine that will study (and ultimately, develop a report with recommendations for) the Management of Legionella in Water Systems. Approximately 55 people attended this first meeting with more participants online. This study will be completed in the fall of 2019, and it will be an important study given the increasing interest in controlling Legionella and the new requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for building water quality management plans for healthcare facilities. Many facilities and water systems and state primacy agencies are working to figure out how to appropriately address this important issue.

The Committee is comprised of 13 respected academics and researchers and has a very ambitious scope to issue a report that will:

1. Describe the microbial ecology of water supplies;
2. Identify primary sources and routes of human exposure;
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for controlling and preventing Legionella;
4. Review policies, codes, and guidelines that affect the control and prevention of legionellosis;
5. Identify gaps in research and needs for additional research.