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Investigation of Legionella pneumophila in Drinking Water
Author(s) -
Witherell Linden E.,
Duncan Robert W.,
Stone Kenneth M.,
Stratton Lori J.,
Orciari Lillian,
Kappel Steven,
Jillson David A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1988.tb02997.x
Subject(s) - legionella pneumophila , legionella , environmental science , tap water , water supply , sink (geography) , environmental engineering , water source , contamination , ecology , biology , water resource management , geography , bacteria , genetics , cartography
An investigation of Legionella pneumophila in drinking water systems and home plumbing appurtenances was conducted in two phases. In phase 1, 68 water samples for L. pneumophila analysis were collected from hot and cold kitchen sink faucets in homes on 17 community water systems. No L. pneumophila organisms were isolated from any of these samples. However, the relatively small sample size, the many variables in the sampling procedure, and potential limitations of the laboratory detection techniques employed may have contributed to the failure of significant recovery. In phase 1 a , the kitchen sink faucets and aerators, showerheads, and supply pipes were sampled with sterile swabs, and samples of hot water were collected from the drains of water heaters in each home. A total of 184 samples was collected from homes on four community water systems. In addition, two samples were collected from a home with a shallow dug well. During this phase, L. pneumophila organisms were recovered from two water heater flush samples—one from a home on a community water system and the other from the home with the shallow well. Both of the positive samples were taken from electric, nonrecirculating water heaters. This finding, together with the lack of recovery in the home water distribution plumbing, could indicate that L. pneumophila may be transported from natural aquatic sources via drinking water systems in very low levels to home water heaters, in which the organisms may increase to detectable levels.