Can Legionella survive in chlorinated water?
Legionella has been isolated from chlorine treated water. The levels of Legionella that elude the water treatment process are essentially undetectable. When this water travels through the system and loses much of the chlorine residual, either from retention time or warm temperatures in water distribution systems, Legionella can then be cultured. The colonization rate for large buildings is 20-70%, depending on the geographic region. Residential water systems can also harbor Legionella.