New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a legislation regulating cooling towers throughout the city on Tuesday, after an epidemic outbreak of Legionnaire's disease killed 12 people in the city's South Bronx area, while putting 127 in hospitals.
"This law changes the future of how the city of New York contends with this disease. And it served as a model for the new statewide regulations that were just formalized," de Blasio said.
The new law requires landlords and company building owners to register, inspect, and clean air-conditioning cooling towers regularly. There is also a need for them to certify their cooling towers. The legislation was put to effect immediately, giving landlords and business owners 30 days to respond to the requirements. If by chance that they do not meet the required standards, city officials may coordinate cleaning the cooling tower and billing the owner. There will also be a $25,000 fine to those who won't uphold the new law.
According to MedLine Plus, Legionnaire's Disease is a type of disease caused by bacteria. You usually get it by breathing in mist from water that contains the bacteria. The mist may come from hot tubs, showers, or air-conditioning units for large buildings. However, the bacteria doesn't spread from person to person.
In a published article in Science Direct entitled, "Cooling towers and legionellosis: A conundrum with proposed solutions," the author said that the cooling water theory in acquiring Legionnaire's Disease was first seen in a hospital outbreak in Memphis, Tennessee.
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that the bacteria that causes the potentially deadly illness can take root in a myriad of water sources, such as poorly maintained hot tubs, water fountains, and cooling towers.
For residences and businesses in the NYC, prevention will be a strong weapon in fighting the further outbreak of this disease.
