Risk of infection from Legionella associated with spray irrigation of reclaimed water

Ian L. Pepper; Charles P. Gerba

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.001

Risk of infection from Legionella associated with spray irrigation of reclaimed water

Ian L. Pepper, Charles P. Gerba

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Legionella pneumophila has been detected in reclaimed water used for spray irrigation of turfgrass in public parks and golf courses. This study determined the risks of infection from exposure to various levels of Legionella in reclaimed waters considering: the method of spray application; and the duration and frequency of exposure. Evaluation of these factors resulted in a risk of infection greater than 1:10,000 for several scenarios when the number of Legionella in the reclaimed water exceeded 1000 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. Most current guidelines for control of Legionella in distribution systems recommend that increased monitoring or remedial action be taken when Legionella levels exceed 1000 to 10,000 CFU/ml. Based upon our risk assessment, these guidelines seem appropriate for reclaimed water systems where spray irrigation is practiced.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	101-107
Number of pages	7
Journal	Water research
Volume	139
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.001
State	Published - Aug 1 2018

Keywords

Legionella
Reclaimed water
Risk assessment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering
Ecological Modeling
Water Science and Technology
Waste Management and Disposal
Pollution

Access to Document

10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.001

Cite this

@article{aa2435b9cfdf44a4be19b868f43f0595,

title = "Risk of infection from Legionella associated with spray irrigation of reclaimed water",

abstract = "Legionella pneumophila has been detected in reclaimed water used for spray irrigation of turfgrass in public parks and golf courses. This study determined the risks of infection from exposure to various levels of Legionella in reclaimed waters considering: the method of spray application; and the duration and frequency of exposure. Evaluation of these factors resulted in a risk of infection greater than 1:10,000 for several scenarios when the number of Legionella in the reclaimed water exceeded 1000 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. Most current guidelines for control of Legionella in distribution systems recommend that increased monitoring or remedial action be taken when Legionella levels exceed 1000 to 10,000 CFU/ml. Based upon our risk assessment, these guidelines seem appropriate for reclaimed water systems where spray irrigation is practiced.",

keywords = "Legionella, Reclaimed water, Risk assessment",

author = "Pepper, {Ian L.} and Gerba, {Charles P.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2018",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.001",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "139",

pages = "101--107",

journal = "Water research",

issn = "0043-1354",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk of infection from Legionella associated with spray irrigation of reclaimed water

AU - Pepper, Ian L.

AU - Gerba, Charles P.

PY - 2018/8/1

Y1 - 2018/8/1

N2 - Legionella pneumophila has been detected in reclaimed water used for spray irrigation of turfgrass in public parks and golf courses. This study determined the risks of infection from exposure to various levels of Legionella in reclaimed waters considering: the method of spray application; and the duration and frequency of exposure. Evaluation of these factors resulted in a risk of infection greater than 1:10,000 for several scenarios when the number of Legionella in the reclaimed water exceeded 1000 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. Most current guidelines for control of Legionella in distribution systems recommend that increased monitoring or remedial action be taken when Legionella levels exceed 1000 to 10,000 CFU/ml. Based upon our risk assessment, these guidelines seem appropriate for reclaimed water systems where spray irrigation is practiced.

AB - Legionella pneumophila has been detected in reclaimed water used for spray irrigation of turfgrass in public parks and golf courses. This study determined the risks of infection from exposure to various levels of Legionella in reclaimed waters considering: the method of spray application; and the duration and frequency of exposure. Evaluation of these factors resulted in a risk of infection greater than 1:10,000 for several scenarios when the number of Legionella in the reclaimed water exceeded 1000 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. Most current guidelines for control of Legionella in distribution systems recommend that increased monitoring or remedial action be taken when Legionella levels exceed 1000 to 10,000 CFU/ml. Based upon our risk assessment, these guidelines seem appropriate for reclaimed water systems where spray irrigation is practiced.

KW - Legionella

KW - Reclaimed water

KW - Risk assessment

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044995329&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044995329&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.001

DO - 10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.001

M3 - Article

C2 - 29631185

AN - SCOPUS:85044995329

SN - 0043-1354

VL - 139

SP - 101

EP - 107

JO - Water research

JF - Water research

ER -

Risk of infection from Legionella associated with spray irrigation of reclaimed water

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this