Westminster Towers water tests positive for Legionella bacteria

The water at Westminster Towers retirement community has tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, according to the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. Spokesman Kent Donahue said Tuesday the Health Department tested “pre-remediation” water samples and recommended that Westminster “hyperchlorinate” its water systems — a common procedure used to reduce the presence of the Legionella bacteria. Westminster — a downtown Orlando complex that houses more than 300 people — hired Nalco Water to treat its systems in July after a former resident contracted Legionnaires’ disease, a severe and potentially deadly form of pneumonia. Donahue didn’t say if the Health Department plans to take additional samples, since Westminster hired a third-party company to treat the water. Wes Meltzer, communications director at Westminster Towers, said the residence’s clinical staff has conducted regular screenings but has not reported any other cases of Legionnaires’ disease at the complex. Meltzer said Westminster has not received results from water samples taken after Nalco treated the community’s water. Westminster sent a letter to residents July 12 alerting them and providing information on Legionnaires’ disease and how to detect symptoms. Neither the complex nor the Health Department would provide more information about the status of the former resident.