In response to the recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued emergency regulations requiring the registration, testing and inspection of building cooling towers statewide. The regulation became effective on Monday, August 17, 2015.
By September 16, 2015 building owners must register their cooling towers with NYSDOH, inspect the towers, and conduct sampling and analysis. Thereafter, testing and inspections must be performed every 90 days. By March 1, 2016, building owners must implement a maintenance program containing a schedule for routine sampling and procedures for emergency testing and disinfection procedures to destroy Legionella bacteria. Cooling towers must be certified as complying with regulation requirements by November 1, 2016.
Additional information is available on the NYSDOH website at http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/legionellosis/.
For help with testing and inspection services contact Colden at (315) 445-0847 or by email at colden@colden.com.