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HEALTH AND SANITATION
Reopened schools find health risks in water after Covid-19 lockdowns
Edited by
Rory Macnamara
Several schools in Ohio , US , found the bacteria that causes Legionnaires ’ disease in their water , and experts say more should expect to see it . Plumbing Africa publishes this as the flushing of water and waste systems after our lockdown was poor . Whilst unqualified persons continue to be allowed to plumb , the risk of legionella in this country increases . Being a respiratory disease , it could have the same effect as Covid-19 has and whilst we treat Covid , we could be misdiagnosing what is legionella !
The new coronavirus is not the only illness that teachers , students , parents and staff will have to worry about as some schools attempt to reopen this fall . Legionella could lurk in the water supplies of school buildings , and some measures to keep people in schools safe from coronavirus may even increase risks from deadly illnesses caused by the bacteria .
Last month in Ohio , officials found Legionella at five schools in an assortment of towns . A few days later , a district in Pennsylvania also announced it had found Legionella at four of its schools .
“ It is unusual to hear about nine schools in a one-week period having a detection of Legionella ,” said Andrew Whelton , an associate professor of civil , environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University in Indiana who has been studying the effects of lockdown on water systems . He said that more schools may be testing for the bacteria than in a typical year .
Legionella , usually Legionella pneumophila , is the bacteria that causes Legionnaires ’ disease , a respiratory condition . It can form in stagnant water and then disperse through the air and be inhaled when , for example , a shower or tap is turned on . It can be fatal in one in 10 cases , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Although young children are less at risk of Legionnaires ’, older students , adults and people with compromised immune systems are vulnerable .
Reddit
Experts worry that water was left to stagnate in plumbing during lockdown , and that schools do not have plans or effective guidance for dealing with the effects of prolonged shutdowns .
To protect against the spread of coronavirus , many school buildings have been unoccupied since March . Their bathrooms , cafeterias and sports facilities have gone unused . While low occupancy in schools is typical during summer breaks , many are open for summer school and other activities . Experts worry that water was left to stagnate in plumbing during lockdown , and that schools do not have plans or effective guidance from health authorities for dealing with the effects of prolonged shutdowns .
“ Schools generally do not have a water management plan ,” Dr Whelton said . “ There ’ s a myth that most do . They don ’ t in my experience .”
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline January 2021 Volume 26 I Number 11