07/21/2026
The recent Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City, which officials have linked to contaminated cooling towers, serves as a stark reminder effective Legionella prevention requires more than water treatment alone. Goodway Technologies is encouraging facility managers to adopt comprehensive inspection, cleaning and disinfection programs to help reduce risk and protect public health.
Goodway Technologies’ CTV-1501 Cooling Tower Vacuum system being used to remove sediment, sludge and debris from cooling tower basins.
According to reports, New York City health officials have linked the outbreak to 76 contaminated cooling towers, once again highlighting the risks associated with improperly maintained building water systems. As remediation efforts continue, the incident serves as a wake-up call for facility managers, building owners and maintenance professionals nationwide.
Legionella bacteria can grow in building water systems and spread through tiny water droplets people inhale. Cooling towers are particularly susceptible when sediment, scale, biofilm and other contaminants are allowed to accumulate. Without proper inspection, cleaning, water treatment and disinfection, these conditions can create an environment where bacteria thrive and potentially spread beyond the tower through airborne water droplets.
“The New York City outbreak demonstrates even today, Legionnaires' disease remains a significant public health threat when cooling towers are not properly maintained,” said Mark Rothenhausen, Senior Director of Sales Operations, Goodway Technologies. “Preventative maintenance is no longer a best practice. It's a necessity. Facilities need a comprehensive approach combining water treatment with the right cleaning and disinfection equipment to effectively manage risk.”
Goodway Technologies, a global leader in HVAC industrial maintenance solutions for over 60 years, recommends the following preventative maintenance steps to reduce the risk of Legionella developing in a facility.
Examine all tower surfaces monthly for sediment, scale and slime, which can build up and help Legionella thrive. Put special focus on cooling tower fill and basins. If there is visible sediment, scale or slime, then it is time to clean. Using a specialized cleaning system makes it fast and easy to conduct frequent cleanings without shutting down or draining the system. The tower fill is a prime environment for scale and bacterial growth. Ensure proper cleaning using a chemical engineered specifically for cooling towers. Work with a professional water treatment to automatically dose water supplies with appropriate biocides at recommended levels and consider monthly Legionella testing to detect early signs of contamination. Check with local ordinances. Some require monthly, quarterly or annual inspections. Regularly disinfect the tower’s surfaces, and before any maintenance is to be performed, use an EPA-registered disinfectant.
To help facility managers proactively reduce Legionella risks, Goodway Technologies offers specialized cooling tower maintenance solutions designed to address key sources of bacterial growth. The CTV-1501 Cooling Tower Vacuum system removes sediment, sludge and debris from cooling tower basins, helping eliminate conditions supporting biological growth without requiring extensive system downtime. The TFC-JR Fill Cleaning system provides comprehensive cleaning of cooling tower fill and internal tower surfaces, where scale, biofilm and contaminants often accumulate. The BioSpray® Tower is an EPA-registered disinfectant specifically formulated for cooling towers to help facilities disinfect critical surfaces and support Legionella prevention efforts.
“Many facilities mistakenly believe chemical treatment alone is enough,” Rothenhausen said. “The reality is effective Legionella prevention requires routine inspections, cleaning, disinfection and the right equipment to remove the debris, scale and biofilm where bacteria can flourish. The consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating.”
About Goodway Technologies
Founded in 1966, Goodway Technologies has spent 60 years delivering innovative industrial maintenance solutions helping customers improve efficiency, safety and performance worldwide. The company provides innovative maintenance solutions for a wide variety of industries, including commercial HVAC, food and beverage processing, power generation and manufacturing. Over the decades, it has worked with customers to create better solutions for tube cleaning systems, industrial vacuums, cooling tower maintenance systems, dry steam solutions, conveyor belt cleaning, descaling systems, coil cleaning products and practically everything else for the care and maintenance of commercial and production facilities. For more information, visit https://www.goodway.com.
