City Council Approves Stricter Legionnaires’ Disease Testing for Cooling Towers

In response to a summer outbreak in Harlem that sickened 114 individuals, resulting in 90 hospitalizations and 7 fatalities, the City Council has passed legislation to enhance testing protocols for building cooling towers. The new law mandates that building owners conduct monthly tests during warm months when towers are operational to detect the presence of Legionella bacteria.

The legislation specifies that all testing must be carried out or overseen by qualified professionals to ensure accuracy. The move aims to prevent future outbreaks by tightening inspection standards and improving maintenance practices.

Cooling towers at Harlem Hospital and another site under construction at 40 W. 137th St., which will house the city’s Public Health Lab, were identified as sources of the recent outbreak—highlighting concerns over oversight and maintenance failures. Several lawsuits have been filed against city agencies and construction firms, supported by civil rights advocates, citing negligence in managing the cooling systems.

City officials emphasized that Legionnaires’ Disease is preventable. Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Health Committee, stated: “We have a responsibility to take every precaution to prevent outbreaks.” The new law requires building owners to perform monthly testing, supervised by qualified professionals, to mitigate risks.

Additionally, the legislation aligns with measures announced by Mayor Eric Adams and Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse, to improve oversight by hiring more inspectors. Previously, testing was required every 90 days; now, the frequency has been increased to once a month during tower operation months, to ensure more rigorous surveillance.

While a broader bill proposing testing of entire water systems—beyond just cooling towers—remains under consideration, the current legislation specifically targets cooling tower maintenance as a critical step in outbreak prevention.