Cooling Towers Testing and Treatment

Information and results for testing of Legionella bacteria in HVAC cooling towers

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Testing for Legionella Bacteria
Test Results
Frequently Asked Questions
Contacts

Testing for the Legionella Bacteria

Out of an abundance of caution, HCPSS began proactively testing for the Legionella bacteria in September 2019. The school system tested samples from higher risk sites, namely all HVAC cooling towers across the school system.

This testing took place in the fall when the water in the cooling towers can be idle for extended periods of time due to low cooling load conditions. Testing was not conducted in response to any health concerns, or done to fulfill a requirement or request. This sampling is not required by federal, state or local regulations.

HCPSS has taken significant measures to improve the health and safety of our buildings to ensure that our students and staff have a safe and healthy learning environment. This includes going beyond required state, federal and local regulations to conduct comprehensive, proactive testing of our building’s systems and perform remediation when necessary. We have prioritized transparency and want to ensure that our community is aware of work being done. It is not uncommon to find various Legionella species in cooling towers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are at least 50 Legionella species, 20 of which cause human diseases; however, the presence of the organism does not necessarily equate to risk of infection. While the sampling and analytical procedures used are not specific enough to verify if the species detected are the ones that cause human disease, we feel the detection of any bacteria warrants chemical treatment and maintenance.

Legionella Test Results

Location	Initial Result (CFU/mL)	Current Result (CFU/mL)	Reports
Administration	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Atholton Elementary School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Post Treatment Results — October 23rd 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021
Atholton High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Centennial High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Clarksville Elementary School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Dunloggin Middle School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Forest Ridge Elementary School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Hammond High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021
Harpers Choice Middle School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Post Treatment Results — October 23rd 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Howard High School Tower 1 Ground	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Howard High School Tower 2 Roof	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Howard High School Tower 3	None Detected	n/a	Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Lake Elkhorn Middle School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Laurel Woods Elementary School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Long Reach High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Marriotts Ridge High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Mt. Hebron High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Oakland Mills High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Oakland Mills Middle School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
Reservoir High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 29nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 17th, 2022
River Hill High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
St. John's Lane Elementary School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
West Friendship Elementary School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Post Treatment Results — October 28th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022
Wilde Lake High School	None Detected	n/a	Initial Results — September 16th, 2019 Initial Results — September 22nd, 2020 Initial Results — September 27nd, 2021 Initial Results — October 15th, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t testing being done at every school and facility?: Testing is done in HVAC cooling towers, which are only in place at 23 buildings. The list of locations can be found online.
If Legionella bacteria was found in my school’s cooling tower, is it safe to drink the water at school? Is it safe to wash my hands?: In testing, HCPSS collects samples from cooling towers, which are present only at the 23 buildings listed online and used to cool water as part of the building’s HVAC system. The school/office's drinking water or water used for other purposes does not come from the cooling towers.
If a test comes back positive, how is HCPSS getting rid of the Legionella bacteria?: If any Legionella bacteria is detected, remediation is performed, which includes chemical treatment and maintenance, such as super chlorination. After the remediation, another water sampling will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the remediation. If the results continue to detect Legionella in the cooling tower, we will investigate and perform additional remediation until the testing comes back negative.
How were students, families and staff notified about this issue, and any applicable test results?: Information regarding Legionella testing was posted to the HCPSS website. An email was sent to staff and another to families. A separate email was sent to families at schools where cooling towers were found to have elevated levels.

HCPSS Contacts

Christopher Madden, Industrial Hygienist/IEQ Manager, Office of the Environment
Larsen Angel, Mechanical Engineering Manager, Department of School Facilities