As facility managers begin focusing on their 2020 priorities, Goodway Technologies is sharing a reminder about the importance of reducing potential health risks and hazards. One of those risks, and a deadly one, is the possible development of Legionella.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “the rate of reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease has grown by nearly nine times since 2000.” There are several sources for Legionella, from showers and faucets to water fountains, but one of the most common reasons for outbreaks are cooling towers. The presence of mold or bacteria in a dirty cooling tower mixes with the tower’s warm water—providing a perfect environment for bacterial growth.
“It’s the responsibility of the building owner and facility manager to take the proper steps to protect the building occupants and minimize the potential risk,” says Ray Field, Director of Chemical Technologies at Goodway Technologies. “Ongoing maintenance and cleaning can make a big impact and may have prevented some of the Legionella cases that we’ve seen over the years.”
While regular maintenance isn’t a new concept in the HVAC industry, the continued rise of outbreaks is putting stronger focus on the need for reducing potential hazards. Not only are employees put at risk due to improperly maintained cooling towers, but also anyone in the nearby vicinity as Legionella can be included in water mists for up to a two-mile radius. This can put your building at risk for liability if not managed properly.
Properly maintaining your cooling tower system with specialized systems for cleaning mud, and silt from cooling tower basins, dissolving and removing scale from cooling tower fill, and following a well-maintained water treatment program will go a long way in the prevention of Legionella and other potential bacteria.
What can be done to help reduce the risk of Legionella?
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Inspect Towers Monthly. Look for sediment, scale and slime, which can lead to buildup and help legionella grow and thrive.
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Clean Tower Basin Surfaces. Clean the basin when sediment is visible. Cooling tower vacuums make it easier to remove contaminants without shutting down or draining your system.
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Treat Circulating Water. Use a biodegradable descaler/antiscalant and dose biocides at recommended levels. Using a descaler in conjunction with biocides enhances biological control. A descaler will help remove tough scale allowing biocides to tackle legionella in the tower more effectively.
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Drain and Clean. At least once a year, take the time to drain your system and perform a thorough cleaning before turning it back on. If your system has been offline for a long period of time, be sure to disinfect.
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Clean the Fill. The tower fill is the perfect environment for bacterial growth, especially legionella. A cooling tower fill cleaner will remove lime scale and debris.
There are additional benefits to ongoing maintenance and cleaning. It can help lower energy and equipment costs. Dirty cooling towers, or any HVAC equipment, need to work harder and that impacts efficiency. This can lead to equipment failure or breakdowns, which can be more expensive than performing the proper maintenance in the first place.
For more information on Goodway’s cooling tower cleaning solutions, visit their website or call 1-800-333-7467 to speak with an expert.
March 11, 2020
Topic Area: Press Release
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