Legionella in Century Village Florida Water

Unhealthy Levels of Legionella in the Water Supply of Century Village Florida Homes

Legionella is a naturally occurring bacterium that can grow in building plumbing when conditions allow. Legionella pneumophila is the species most commonly mentioned; it can persist in water heaters, storage tanks, low-flow pipe sections and other parts of a home’s system. The bacteria become a greater risk when water is aerosolized — for example from showers, faucets and some appliances — and they’re not detectable by taste, smell, or appearance, so testing and preventive measures are important for Century Village homeowners.

Even if municipal treatment is doing its job, Legionella can regrow inside household plumbing when temperatures, stagnation, scale or biofilm provide a hospitable environment. In Palm Beach County’s humid subtropical climate and with commonly hard water, limescale and sediment can contribute to biofilm buildup and give bacteria places to persist. Because daily exposure is often from aerosols rather than drinking water, treating the water where it enters your Century Village residence is a key part of reducing risk.