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Maintenance of cooling towers following two outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in a city

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. S. Bhopal  and
G. Barr
R. S. Bhopal
Affiliation:
Division of Community Medicine, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
G. Barr
Affiliation:
Glasgow District Council, 23 Montrose Street, Glasgow, G1 1RN, UK
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Summary

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This survey assessed the maintenance of evaporative cooling towers in Glasgow, following two Legionnaires' disease outbreaks. Information was obtained from 76 of 81 premises and a maintenance score was calculated for each of 174 towers. The quality of maintenance was extremely varied (range of maintenance scores, 8–30 mean, 22 (S. D., 5.0); median, 23; maximum possible, 33) and some towers were neglected. Breaches of maintenance principles were mainly structural and organizational, e.g. inadequate drift control, rather than failure to use chemicals. Low maintenance scores were associated with no log book, no guidelines, no change in procedures in last 5 years, solitary cooling towers, and towers on industrial premises. Despite intense publicity the standard of cooling tower maintenance in Glasgow remained a concern. Information campaigns directed at those responsible for cooling–tower maintenance are neccessary.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 104 , Issue 1 , February 1990 , pp. 29 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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