Legionella Detected in Upper West Side Building’s Hot Water System; No Illnesses Reported

Residents of an Upper West Side apartment building have been notified that Legionella bacteria was detected in the building’s hot water system, according to a memo obtained by NY1. City health officials said there have been no reported illnesses linked to the building and that the discovery is unrelated to the ongoing Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side.

The memo was sent Friday to residents of The Ardsley, a residential building located at 320 Central Park West, after the property’s owners independently tested the hot water system and identified the presence of the bacteria. The finding was first reported by the West Side Rag.

Building management said it has hired a water management consultant to disinfect the system. The consultant is scheduled to flush and sanitize the entire hot water system on Thursday as a precautionary measure.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it is not currently investigating The Ardsley because no cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported among residents. Officials also emphasized that the detection of Legionella in the building is not connected to the recent Upper East Side outbreak.

The Upper East Side outbreak has sickened at least 54 people, with 18 patients requiring hospitalization, according to city health officials. The affected areas include ZIP codes 10028, 10128, and 10075.

Legionella bacteria can occur naturally in water systems and may cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of pneumonia, when contaminated water droplets are inhaled. Health officials advise that prompt cleaning and disinfection of affected water systems can significantly reduce the risk of infection.