A recent update from the Ector County Health Department has brought renewed attention to the risks associated with waterborne pathogens. Since mid-November, 12 cases of Legionnaires’ disease, including two fatalities, have been confirmed, with case numbers rising through late December and early January. 

When evaluating point-of-use water filters for a healthcare facility, two numbers appear more often than any others: the pore size in microns and the log reduction value. Both describe how thoroughly a filter removes bacteria from water. Both are independently certified under recognized US and international standards. And both differ significantly between filters that carry the same general description, "anti-Legionella", but perform quite differently in practice.

Regulatory requirements around Legionella and building water safety have tightened significantly over the past decade. Three documents now define the compliance landscape for US healthcare facilities: CMS directive QSO-17-30, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188, and The Joint Commission standard EC.02.05.02. Understanding what each one requires and the gap between having a document and running a program, is the starting point for any facility looking to manage its risk and its liability