Everything You Need to Know About Legionella in Water

When you turn on your tap, you expect your water to be clean and safe to drink and use. However, if you rely on well water for your home, it’s possible your water may have unseen health risks, including the presence of Legionella bacteria. Though well water is generally a safe option for homeowners, it’s important to understand what potential issues your well water may have and how to rectify them. Legionella in particular can cause serious health issues in high-risk populations, including Legionnaires’ disease, so it’s crucial to be familiar with how the bacteria spreads and how to treat it effectively.

How Does Legionella Get Into Water?

Legionella bacteria naturally occur in freshwater environments like rivers and lakes. In these sources, Legionella is typically only present in small amounts and doesn’t pose a significant health threat. However, when Legionella ends up in well water, the bacteria can multiply rapidly under the right conditions. According to the CDC, Legionella grows in man-made water systems when:

• Biofilm slime is present
• Water temperatures linger between 77–113°F, though Legionella has been found to grow in temperatures as low as 68°F
• There isn’t enough disinfectant present, though using disinfectants such as chlorine to treat Legionella has been called into question
• Water moves too slowly or is stagnant

What Is Legionnaires’ Disease?

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the inhalation of Legionella bacteria. Symptoms usually appear within two to 10 days of exposure. Early on, headache, muscle aches, and a high-grade fever of 104°F or higher may occur. Once the lungs have become inflamed, usually around the second or third day of symptoms, symptoms will likely expand to include a cough with mucus or blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or confusion.

However, not all individuals who come into contact with Legionella contract Legionnaires’ disease. Estimates suggest about 8,000-18,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease occur in the US annually, with some experts believing even these numbers may be slightly underreported due to issues distinguishing pneumonia from Legionnaires’ Disease. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, smokers, and individuals with a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. Fortunately, the disease can be treated with a course of antibiotics.

How Does Legionnaires’ Disease Spread?

Legionnaires’ disease isn’t contagious, meaning it can’t spread from person to person. As mentioned, the disease primarily spreads by inhaling water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. These droplets can come from any source connected to an affected well, such as plumbing fixtures or appliances.

How to Treat Legionella In Water

Chlorination has traditionally been used to disinfect drinking water and control Legionella. However, a recent study of chlorinated reservoirs and distribution piping in Las Vegas suggests chlorine may not always be an effective disinfectant. All 61 nontreated water wells tested positively detected Legionella bacteria. In sources where chlorination was used, Legionella numbers were greatly reduced but full inactivation of the bacteria was not achieved. Therefore, the study suggested that Legionella may be becoming more resistant to chlorine treatments.

Kind Water Systems uses a UV Water Purification System to help treat legionella bacteria in water. UV disinfection systems emit ultraviolet light to disrupt microorganism DNA, which prevents microbes from reproducing. In water flowing up to 15 GPM, Kind Water’s UV system provides a calculated dose of 30mj, surpassing the 9.4mj minimum required dose for Legionella. Customers can purchase this system as a standalone product, but we do recommend pairing this system with other products, especially for those who rely on well water.

Treat multiple contaminants commonly found in groundwater wells with our Well Water Bundles.