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Distribution and seasonality ofLegionella pneumophila in colling towers

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Abstract

The numbers of presumptiveLegionella pneumophila cells in waters and sediments of nine different cooling towers located on the same site in the northeastern United States were determined at approximately monthly intervals for 18 months. All systems received makeup water from the same source and received the same chemical treatments. PresumptiveL. pneumophila were found in both water and sediment samples from all systems on all sampling dates. An important result of this study was the finding that tower sediments represent large reservoirs ofL. pneumophila. The only correlation between levels of presumptiveL. pneumophila and any of the physical, chemical, or operating characteristics evaluated was with winter shutdown and drainage followed by a nonoperational period. These systems showed a definite seasonal response with the highest levels of presumptiveL. pneumophila found in the summer and fall. Systems operated year round showed relatively constant numbers ofL. pneumophila in both water and sediments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fresh Water Institute and Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 12181, Troy, New York, USA

    Ellen Braun Howland & Daniel H. Pope

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  1. Ellen Braun Howland
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  2. Daniel H. Pope
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Howland, E.B., Pope, D.H. Distribution and seasonality ofLegionella pneumophila in colling towers. Current Microbiology 9, 319–323 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01588827

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