Legionella Found In Water At West Orange Parks, Fire/Police HQ

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Water testing has revealed elevated levels of Legionella bacteria – the organisms that lead to Legionnaire's Disease – at several municipal properties in West Orange, town officials announced Wednesday.

According to a statement from town officials, properties and buildings that tested positive for elevated levels of the bacteria include Lafayette Park, O’Connor Park, Fire Headquarters, Firehouse No. 2, Firehouse No. 4 and Police Headquarters.

The Legionella bacteria found in the water at the two parks is specific to the field houses and not the public recreational areas, a West Orange spokesperson said.

In response, the township immediately shut down water supply at those properties and is conducting remedial steps that include installing filters, flushing plumbing and distributing bottled water, officials reported Wednesday morning.

Last month, testing revealed elevated levels of the bacteria at West Orange Town Hall after a longtime municipal worker was hospitalized with Legionnaire's Disease, a severe form of pneumonia commonly found in found in potable and non-potable water systems.

• See related article: Legionella Found At West Orange Town Hall After Worker Gets Sick

The employee is recovering and is back on the job. Experts have allegedly told West Orange officials that it’s unlikely the worker contracted the disease from the water at Town Hall, since more than one person would have gotten sick.

• See related article: West Orange Worker Didn't Get Legionnaire's At Town Hall, Official Says

Officials said that they planned to begin testing "all other West Orange municipally-owned public buildings" in early August, with test results expected to take about two weeks.

Those test results came back with some discouraging news, officials announced Wednesday; six more properties have elevated levels of Legionella in their water supplies (see above list).

West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi said that after getting the most recent test results, the township immediately shut down the affected water supplies and is implementing the same remedial steps taken at Town Hall.

“This means filters will be installed, bottled water made available immediately, and all plumbing flushed to eliminate any bacteria,” Parisi stated. “We have been advised by expert consultants including New Jersey American Water that these steps will fully remedy the current situation.”

Director of Health Theresa DeNova provided the following information about Legionnaire's Disease:

"It is not contagious, person to person… it is not airborne… it cannot be contracted by drinking or touching water… and the way it is contracted is by inhaling contaminated water mist."

NJAW: ‘QUALITY CAN CHANGE ONCE IT LEAVES OUR PIPES’

New Jersey American Water released the following statement about the situation in West Orange:

“Providing safe water is New Jersey American Water’s number one priority and a responsibility we share with all our customers. Although the drinking water we deliver is treated and meets all federal and state water quality standards and requirements, the quality of that water can change once it leaves our pipes and enters domestic plumbing systems. When we became aware of the issues the Township of West Orange experienced with legionella in the plumbing infrastructure of its Municipal Township Building, we began proactively working with Mayor Parisi, his staff, health officials and town consultants to provide expert guidance and assistance as the town works to remedy this situation. We are committed to helping the Township resolve this issue as they work to disinfect and upgrade their building systems to ensure a healthy and safe work environment for their employees.”

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