New York, US: A bill that would require building owners in New York City to regularly test their water systems for Legionella bacteria has been stalled in the City Council for nearly two years, despite a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Harlem that killed seven people and sickened over 100 others. The stalled legislation, spearheaded by Bronx Councilwoman Pierina Ana Sanchez, aims to expand safety measures beyond the current regulation—which only mandates testing of cooling towers every 90 days—to include regular inspection, testing, and management of water systems in large residential buildings, particularly those housing vulnerable populations such as seniors.
The bill, known as Intro. 434, has the support of at least 23 council members but remains stuck in the Health Committee with no scheduled hearings or votes since January 2024. It would require building water systems to be inspected and tested at least every six months by qualified third-party testers. In cases where Legionella bacteria are detected, building owners must take immediate corrective action and notify tenants and visitors. The bill also grants the Health Department authority to inspect buildings without prior notice to ensure compliance, with escalating fines for violations starting at $500.
The urgency for such legislation was renewed following the recent outbreak traced to water cooling towers at Harlem Hospital and a nearby construction site. The outbreak resulted in 114 confirmed cases, 90 hospitalizations, and seven deaths—the deadliest Legionnaires’ outbreak in the city in recent years. Health authorities declared the Harlem outbreak officially over by mid-August after no new cases were reported for several weeks, but not without highlighting gaps in the existing regulations.
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Current laws require testing of cooling towers quarterly, but experts and advocates argue they do not adequately address domestic or potable water systems, which have also been linked to Legionella outbreaks. April McIver, executive director of The Plumbing Foundation, criticized the current legislation for failing to protect residents from Legionella in drinking water systems and called for more detailed and comprehensive testing protocols.
In response to the outbreak, New York City officials announced plans to tighten cooling tower regulations, including requiring testing every 30 days instead of the current 90, and increasing fines for violations. However, these measures do not yet cover the broader water systems in residential buildings that the stalled bill targets.
Councilwoman Sanchez and public health advocates warn that without the passage of this comprehensive bill, residents remain at risk from Legionella exposure in building water systems outside of cooling towers. The failure to advance the legislation has drawn criticism from the community and public health experts who stress that Legionnaires’ disease is preventable with proper monitoring and maintenance.
The stalled bill highlights a broader concern about aging infrastructure and the challenges the city faces in managing waterborne pathogens in high-density urban environments. With the recent Harlem outbreak serving as a tragic reminder, many are urging the City Council to move forward on this bill to protect public health and prevent future Legionnaires’ disease clusters across New York City.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Councilwoman Sanchez’s office regarding the bill’s stagnation, leaving residents and health advocates anxiously awaiting progress on crucial Legionella prevention legislation that could save lives.
