Health
How Strategic Water Treatment Changes Stopped a Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
University of Minnesota researchers have documented the first case of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak being halted through disinfection of previously untreated groundwater, raising urgent questions about disease risk in the many U.S. communities that rely on undisinfected water supplies.
Key Takeaways
- 34 Legionnaires' disease cases and 2 deaths in Grand Rapids traced to undisinfected groundwater supply
- Elevated assimilable organic carbon in groundwater fueled Legionella bacterial growth in distribution pipes
- Chloramine disinfection reduced Legionella to undetectable levels and stopped all new cases immediately
- First documented outbreak halted through disinfection of previously untreated groundwater
- Thousands of U.S. communities relying on undisinfected groundwater may face similar unrecognized risks
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DT Editorial AI··via medicalxpress.com