Legionella in Marathon Shores Florida Water

Unhealthy Levels of Legionella in the Water Supply of Marathon Shores Florida Homes

Legionella is a naturally occurring bacterium that can colonize building plumbing when conditions allow it to grow. The species most commonly referenced is Legionella pneumophila, which may inhabit water heaters, storage tanks, low-flow pipe runs, and other parts of a home’s system. It becomes a greater concern when water is turned into aerosol—think showers, faucets, and appliances that spray—because that’s how people are most likely to inhale it. Because Legionella usually won’t change taste, smell, or appearance, testing and preventive measures matter for Marathon Shores residents.

Even if water arriving to a Marathon Shores house is treated — for example via the Florida Keys Aqueduct — Legionella can still grow within a home when temperatures, stagnation, scale and biofilm create favorable conditions. Our warm, humid Keys climate and hard water can encourage mineral buildup and low-use lines, which raises the chance of regrowth in plumbing and hot water systems. While many homeowners focus on drinking water, exposure more often occurs from mist and spray in everyday fixtures, so addressing water quality where it enters your Marathon Shores home is a useful part of an overall control strategy.