The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) Water Science and Technology Board (WSTB) recently announced the first meeting for a project to address the management of Legionella in water systems. The NAS WSTB created an ad hoc committee consisting of 13 experts in the fields of microbiology, public health, infectious disease, and water infrastructure. The committee has been tasked to “review the state of science with respect to Legionella contamination of water systems.”
NAS WSTB released its “Statement of Task” outlining the topics to be addressed in the project report. The report will:
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describe the microbial ecology of water supplies
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identify primary sources and routes of human exposure to Legionella
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evaluate effective strategies for controlling and preventing Legionella
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review policies, codes, and guidelines that affect control and prevention of legionellosis
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identify gaps in research and needs for additional research
The project duration is anticipated to be 18 months. The first public meeting will be held on February 8th at the NAS offices in Washington, D.C. to discuss the project and allow for public comment. Interested parties can register to attend in person or listen in via web conference.