Legionella Control

Research

Legionella.org's research efforts have contributed to advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Legionnaires' disease. We continue to evaluate new and innovative control strategies. Our work includes experiments performed in the lab to evaluate biocides, biofilm behavior, and pathogen growth in batch and bench scale plumbing systems. The information generated from our research is presented to disinfection technology firms seeking our thorough and independent evaluations of their products, as well as shared with the public at technical conferences and scientific presentations.

Legionella Control

We have evaluated all the methods used for controlling Legionella in water distribution systems.  This work has been published in major medical, microbiology and infection control journals.  Our research on the most commonly applied technologies (copper-silver ionization, chlorine dioxide and ultra-violet (UV) light) serves to inform decision makers of the important facts about efficacy, cost, operation and maintenance of disinfection systems.  Our most recent work includes novel application of existing methods and a new monochloramine generation system for disinfection of building hot water systems.

We have also evaluated water treatment approaches for controlling Legionella in evaporative cooling systems (cooling towers). In model water systems designed and constructed at the University of Pittsburgh, we tested various chemical biocides for efficacy against Legionella.  In a study supported by the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), we evaluated the efficacy of non-chemical water treatment devices to control microbiological fouling.  The report, ASHRAE (RP-1361): Biological Control in Cooling Water Systems Using Non-­Chemical Treatment Devices, is available at ASHRAE RP. To recieve a copy of the study published in ASHRAE's HVAC Journal, please contact us.