Legionella in cooling towers: What’s being done?

Legionella in cooling towers has become a serious concern, as it is potentially fatal, particularly to people over the age of 50. Legionella infection reportedly occurs when people breathe in miniscule droplets of infected water.

In light of this, industry experts are calling for vigilance with regard to maintenance of cooling towers, highlighting the importance of integrating certain features to ensure the safety and well-being of the community at large.

Karthik Krishnamurthy, Area Sales Manager at Kelvion Thermal Solutions FZCO, said that Legionella typically grows in stagnant water, which has made cooling tower manufacturers put an air inlet louver, as “it will avoid direct sunlight getting in the basin and formation of the bacteria”.

Apart from integrating an air inlet louver as a preventive measure, Krishnamurthy emphasised the need for regular maintenance. He said, “They have to clean the cooling tower base regularly.”