Legionnaires’ Outbreak: Don’t Let Your Facility Be Next
When preventable failures lead to serious health crises, the consequences are often avoidable—but the costs are steep.
A recent Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem sickened over 100 people and claimed five lives. The culprit? Legionella bacteria thriving in poorly maintained cooling towers across 12 towers in 10 buildings—including hospitals and clinics. Facility inspection lapses—where nearly 27% of towers went untested on schedule—made the situation all the more tragic.
Experts continue to warn: Legionella loves warm, stagnant water, particularly in cooling systems, humidifiers, condensate pans, and chillers—making robust HVAC maintenance non-negotiable.
How Walton & Company Helps You Stay Ahead
- Planned Maintenance Programs
Walton & Company offers comprehensive, scheduled preventative maintenance contracts for mechanical systems—including chillers and cooling towers—reducing Legionella risk before it becomes a crisis. - Air Quality & Germ Control Technologies
From UV germicidal systems to advanced cleaning strategies, Walton provides engineered solutions that eliminate microbial threats, including bacteria like Legionella, before they spread. - Skilled HVAC Technicians and Protocols
Our trained technicians follow structured maintenance checklists and protocols that are specifically designed to mitigate airborne pathogens—keeping your systems compliant, efficient, and safe.
Avoid the Fallout: Financial, Legal, Ethical
- Legal actions are already underway. Attorneys argue the Harlem outbreak was “completely preventable,” citing negligence in cooling tower upkeep.
- Public outrage has sparked demands for greater oversight, accountability, and transparency.
- Delayed or missing disclosures hampered response efforts—underscoring the need for ongoing system monitoring and proactive communication.
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- This image shows the outside structure of a round cooling tower, highlighting the support steel, piping, and lower basin area. It offers a clear view of the infrastructure that supports water distribution, airflow, and heat exchange. Regular inspection of these components is essential for preventing conditions that promote Legionella growth, such as stagnant water or debris buildup.
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- This inside view captures active water flow within the cooling tower, showing the critical process of water circulation and misting over fill media. When improperly treated or maintained, this environment can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. Proper movement and water treatment are vital to system health—and public safety.
Don’t wait for an outbreak—or a lawsuit to act.
Contact Walton & Company today to:
- Put in place a proactive maintenance schedule
- Upgrade microbial control across all HVAC and chiller systems
- Ensure compliance and safeguard public health
Response to concern is reactive; prevention is proactive. Let us help you protect what matters most—your people, your reputation, and your peace of mind.
Stay safe, clean, and confident with Walton’s Preventive Maintenance Plan.
Contact Bill Vervaeke, Building Services Manager, 717-840-2200 or bvervaeke@waltonco.com
