LAKOS - Training Center

Separator Training Center
Fighting Legionella and Legionnaires' Disease
Legionnaire's Disease disease is a lung infection (pneumonia) caused by a bacterium named Legionella pneumophila. The name Legionella pneumophila was derived from the original outbreak at the 1976 American Legion Convention in Philadelphia. Pneumophila means lung-loving in Greek. The LAKOS recommended solution (click here)
Prevention Legionella is addressed in ASHRAE's Guideline 12, where evaporative heat rejection equipment such as cooling towers and evaporative condensers are noted (in section 7.5) as possible causes of Legionnaires' disease, and their recommended treatment is given in section 7.6.1: "7.6.1 System Maintenance: Keeping the system clean reduces the nutrients available for Legionella growth. Regular visual inspections should be made for general cleanliness. The cold water basin of the unit should be cleaned when any buildup of dirt, organic matter, or other debris is visible or found through sampling. Mechanical filtration may be used to help reduce these solids. Strainers, cartridge filters, sand filters, centrifugal gravity-type separators and bag type filters can be used to assist in removal of debris...."	Sources and Causes Legionnaires’ disease is caused by bacteria that belong to the family Legionellaceae. This family now includes 48 species. Approximately half of these species have been implicated in human disease. Legionella pneumophila is responsible for approximately 90% of infections. The major source for Legionella is water distribution systems of large buildings such as hotels and hospitals. Cooling towers have long been thought to be a major source for Legionella. Other sources include mist machines, humidifiers, whirlpool spas, and hot springs. Air conditioners are not a source for Legionnaires' disease. They were suspected to be the source in the original American Legion outbreak in a Philadelphia hotel, but new data now suggests that the water in the hotel was the actual culprit. LINKS to More Information: FACTS ABOUT LEGIONELLA http://www.eci-ndt.com/index.htm http://www.corrview.com/corr_06.htm NEWS STORIES REGARDING OUTBREAKS http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2005/21/c4644.html http://www.hcinfo.com LAKOS Recommended Solution: We recommend basin cleaning for prevention of the bacteria that can form with solids in the bottom of the basin. A LAKOS TowerClean system, including the use of basin-cleaning HydroBoosters in the basin can aid in this prevention. Typical Cooling Tower Installations Below: Video of basin-cleaning HydroBoosters In Action (for high-bandwith users only)

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