WIESBADEN, Germany - U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden will conduct its routine, annual water testing for Legionella bacteria from Nov. 12 through 21. Approximately 150 facilities - those with showers - will be tested. Due to the size of the hot water systems, this excludes single family homes and duplexes, such as those in Newman Village.
Not all residents in multi-family buildings will have their water tested. Occupied units, ideally farthest from the hot water source will be sampled. Residents whose water will be tested will receive a notification with a timeframe when a contractor will collect a sample from the home's main shower. Non-residential facilities to be tested will also receive a notification of testing times. Sampling takes about 10 minutes, and results are complete in two weeks.
The Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division will notify residents only if the test comes back over set limits. If a sample exceeds those limits, DPW will raise the temperature in the building's water system, flush the system and re-test the building.
This will be the third year for Legionella testing at USAG Wiesbaden in accordance with the recently revised Environmental Final Governing Standards for Germany. Besides the annual testing, all buildings are equipped with an anti-Legionella device that raises the temperature of the water overnight to prevent bacteria growth.
Maintaining water systems, flushing water pipes and annual testing are important to keep everyone safe and healthy, said Silvia Schlepper, who oversees the garrison's Legionella testing program.
Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria that can become problematic in man-made water systems when it grows in high concentrations. Inhaling the bacteria in droplets, such as the spray from a shower, can cause Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia.
For more information about the Environmental Division's Legionella testing, search "legionella" on the garrison homepage, home.army.mil/wiesbaden, or call Schlepper at (0611) 143-548-4093.
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