UWS Building's Hot Water System Tests Positive for Legionella Bacteria, Memo Shows

Key Points:

• The Ardsley, a 22-story building on the Upper West Side, tested positive for Legionella bacteria in its hot water system, prompting plans to disinfect and flush the system on July 16, with residents advised to avoid using hot water during the process.
• The Legionella detection was independently conducted by the building's owner, not the NYC Health Department, amid heightened attention to Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in the city, particularly on the Upper East Side.
• No cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported among The Ardsley residents, and health officials emphasize that residents can safely drink water and take baths but should avoid steam showers to reduce exposure risk.
• Legionnaires’ disease is caused by bacteria that grow in warm water systems and is not contagious; risk factors include age over 50, smoking, and chronic health conditions, with the city typically seeing 200-700 cases annually.
• The recent Upper East Side outbreak involves 54 confirmed cases linked to water-cooling towers in 31 buildings, differing from The Ardsley’s plumbing system-related detection, highlighting varied sources of Legionella exposure.