SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 30, 2005
CONTACT: Jerry Hofer, (605) 773-3361

Training scheduled for cooling tower operators on Legionella

PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Health is offering two training sessions on the proper operation and maintenance of cooling towers and other evaporative water systems such as ornamental fountains and swamp coolers to control Legionella. One session will be held in Pierre on December 6 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Izaak Walton Clubhouse, 1200 Izaak Walton Road.  The second is scheduled for December 7 in Sioux Falls from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Ramada Inn, Gallery 3, 1301 West Russell Street.

The sessions are designed for operators, chemical suppliers and all others involved in maintaining water cooling systems.  There is no registration fee.

The presenter is Tim Keane, of Legionella Risk Management, Inc.  Keane assisted the department with the on-site investigation of the recent Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in Rapid City. He serves on the committee that is updating the ASHRAE guideline titled “Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems.”  The guideline is nationally and internationally recognized. ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

In the process of conducting the Rapid City investigation, the department found that operators had many questions about proper maintenance and wanted to make sure they were doing what they could to eliminate the bacteria. The training sessions are designed to answer those questions and provide the necessary education about ongoing, routine maintenance of cooling towers, swamp coolers, ornamental fountains, and process water systems.