With the number of Legionnaires cases increasing at alarming rates throughout the United States, local communities and industry are turning to government authorities and water treatment experts for help. Armed with information and expertise to identify and minimize the disease, the Association of Water Technologies (AWT) released a new paper on Legionella and minimizing the risk of Legionellosis from water systems.

The number of cases of Legionellosis reported to the Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention totals 624 to date this year, compared to 436 for the corresponding period last year—a 43 percent increase. In some parts of the country the numbers double to triple those reported at this time last year.

To shed light on the disease and its causes, AWT has released “Legionella 2003: An Update and Statement by AWT.” The paper is scheduled to be presented at the 2003 AWT Water Technologies Convention and Expo in Phoenix this September. It can be viewed at www.awt.org/Legionella03.pdf.