Oakland County Working to Rid Buildings of Legionella Bacteria Risk

Oakland County is working to rid buildings of the danger of legionella micro organism

(Oakland County, January 7, 2026)

Pontiac, MI – Oakland County Amenities Administration, in coordination with the Oakland County Well being Division, Danger Administration and third-party water security consultants, continues to take proactive steps to stop and remediate the presence of Legionella micro organism in choose county services. All actions are guided by finest practices and proposals from the Michigan Division of Well being and Human Companies and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

Primarily based on the survey outcomes, the county’s preliminary response targeted on two buildings: the Sheriff’s Administration Constructing and the Courthouse Tower. The Courthouse Tower operates on a closed inner water system that’s fully separate from the east and west wings of the courthouse complicated.

Actions taken thus far

Sheriff’s Workplace Constructing:

• Hyperchlorination of the constructing’s water system
• Steady system-wide flushing
• Set up of point-of-use filters on all fixtures, together with these with out constructive check outcomes
• Sampling and adjustment for correct water temperature and monitoring of chlorine ranges
• Ongoing testing in accordance with CDC and state well being pointers

Courthouse Tower:

• Steady system-wide flushing of the water system
• Set up of point-of-use filters on all fixtures, together with these with out constructive check outcomes
• Sampling and adjustment for correct water temperature and monitoring of chlorine ranges
• Ongoing testing as half of the present investigation

Primarily based on the age of the Courthouse Tower’s sanitary infrastructure, the water advisor beneficial not utilizing hyperchlorination in that constructing.

Out of an abundance of warning, Amenities Administration additionally flushed the water techniques on the Courthouse East Wing, Courthouse West Wing, Courthouse West Wing Extension, Board of Commissioners workplaces and different county buildings east of Telegraph Highway.

Ongoing long-term prevention measures

Oakland County is implementing a complete, multi-layered strategy to water security, which incorporates:

• Ongoing preventive upkeep, together with:
  • Monitoring the temperature of the boiler
  • Flushing fireplace hydrants to extend water motion
  • Monitoring boilers and cooling towers for correct chemical remedy
  • Draining {and professional} cleansing of cooling gear on the finish of every cooling season
• Continued testing on the Sheriff’s Administration Constructing and the Courthouse Tower
• Steady monitoring of water temperature and chlorine ranges within the Courthouse Tower, East Wing, West Wing and Predominant Jail
• Weekly flushing of water techniques in all provincial buildings on campus beginning January 12, 2026
• Improvement of formal water administration plans for precedence services, adopted by a long-term water administration plan for all county-owned buildings

The chance of Legionella contamination throughout routine each day actions corresponding to hand washing and bathroom use is taken into account very low. People with compromised immune techniques or different danger components might take extra precautions. N-95 masks can be found upon request to county staff and the general public.

Further details about Legionella micro organism and Legionnaires’ illness is obtainable by way of the Oakland County Well being Division’s Oakland Connects Helpline at 800-848-5533 or by emailing OCHelpline@OakGov.com. A nurse or neighborhood well being employee is obtainable to reply questions Monday by way of Friday from 8:30 AM to five:00 PM.

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