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Over the course of the last year, building owners have been pulled into many different priorities. As building occupancies continue to change, it’s important that water systems are managed properly for the health and safety of occupants. During this webinar on September 16, 2021 from 1 - 2 PM ET, federal public health partners from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will share national trends, recommendations, and resources related to building water safety. Additionally, industry partners from Nalco Water will share their observations and lessons learned for building water management.
CDC staff will provide information about waterborne disease pathogens associated with building water systems. Highlighting Legionella¸ the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, presenters will discuss ways in which building occupancy fluctuations may impact conditions favorable for Legionella growth and exposure. Prevention guidance and resources will be shared for building owners and operators, as well as the general public.
Nalco Water will review industry best practices for managing risk of Legionella bacteria that may be present in building water systems. Strategies for reoccupying buildings that were shut down or had low occupancy during the pandemic will be discussed, including:
- Critical nature of Water Safety Plans such as flushing versus hyperchlorination treatments.
- Should I test for Legionella, lead, and copper?
- What are the critical elements of a written Legionella Water Management Program or Plan?
- What are common mistakes or pitfalls when implementing a plan or strategy?
Objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the impact of varying building occupancy on water quality and waterborne pathogens;
- Review federal guidance and tools on safe building reopening and preventing Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks;
- Review industry guidelines and best practices including key flushing protocols; and
- Discuss monitoring strategies to verify and validate safe potable water (Lead, Copper, Legionella).
Speaker Information
Elizabeth (Liz) Hannapel, MPH, is an Epidemiologist with the Legionella team in the Respiratory Diseases Branch in the Division of Bacterial Diseases within CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. The Legionella team, in partnership with environmental health specialists in the National Center for Environmental Health, provides technical assistance for legionellosis surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response through epidemiology and laboratory services.
Commander Jasen Kunz, MPH, REHS, is an Environmental Health Officer at the Water Food and Environmental Health Services Branch (WFEHSB) in CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. WFEHSB provides technical assistance, practice-based research, training, tools and guidance to address environmental causes of foodborne and waterborne threats to health. Commander Kunz leads the agency’s environmental health component of preventing and responding to Legionnaires’ disease.
Eric Myers is a Senior Technical Consultant with Institutional Water Safety, an independent business of Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company. Eric has 25+ years of experience in food and water safety, and he is a voting member of the ASHRAE standards committee SSPC 188. Global responsibilities include development of new technologies and strategies to reduce risk of waterborne pathogens in building water systems. Eric earned a master’s degree in Food Science and Microbiology from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Nutrition with an emphasis in Food Microbiology from The Ohio State University.
Photo (top): Unsplash
