A health advisory is underway in Central Harlem after the NYC Department of Health began investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases. Multiple residents are experiencing severe symptoms linked to Legionella bacteria, commonly found in warm water systems such as cooling towers, plumbing infrastructure, and fountains.
While the city investigates, Document Solutions urges New York City offices, schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses to take proactive steps toward improving water safety, starting with the systems you use every day for drinking water.
What Is Legionnaires’ Disease and How Is It Spread?
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by the inhalation of aerosolized water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. It is not spread by drinking water, but rather through misting systems, HVAC units, spas, and fountains where bacteria grow in stagnant warm water.
Common Legionella Sources:
- Cooling towers (air conditioning)
- Hot tubs and spas
- Decorative fountains
- Large plumbing systems
- Showerheads and humidifiers
Why NYC Businesses Should Pay Attention
Although the source of the current Harlem outbreak is under investigation, dense urban infrastructure and outdated plumbing can allow bacteria like Legionella to thrive, especially in commercial and institutional buildings with large, complex water systems.
If you operate in Central Harlem, the Bronx, Manhattan, or New Jersey, now is the time to evaluate your water systems, including the water dispensers your staff and guests use daily.
Reverse Osmosis: A Proven Solution for Waterborne Bacteria
At Document Solutions, we offer advanced reverse osmosis (RO) water coolers designed to eliminate harmful contaminants including bacteria like Legionella before the water ever reaches your glass.
How It Works:
Our bottleless water coolers use a multi-stage reverse osmosis system to filter out:
- Bacteria and viruses
- Heavy metals
- Total dissolved solids (TDS)
- Chlorine and chemical residues
By removing these impurities, our RO systems deliver clean, great-tasting water without the plastic waste or delivery hassles of traditional water jugs.
Important Note: While RO does not eliminate Legionella already in the air or mist, it significantly reduces the risk of internal water system contamination, supporting safer office environments.
Who Is Most at Risk from Legionnaires’ Disease?
The CDC reports that certain populations are at higher risk for complications:
- Adults 50 years and older
- Smokers or individuals with chronic lung conditions
- Those with weakened immune systems
- Patients with recent respiratory infections
If your office serves older adults, patients, or vulnerable individuals, pure, bacteria-free water is more than a convenience, it’s a critical health and safety measure.
What Can Your Office Do Right Now?
✔ Install a reverse osmosis water cooler to ensure the water your team drinks is free of bacteria and contaminants
✔ Request a free TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) test from Document Solutions to assess your current water quality
✔ Avoid mist exposure from unmaintained fountains or cooling systems, especially in high-risk buildings
✔ Stay informed with updates from the NYC Department of Health
✔ Ask your building management about HVAC and plumbing maintenance protocols
Why Businesses Across NYC and New Jersey Are Switching to Bottleless RO Systems
More offices are choosing Document Solutions’ bottleless water coolers to improve health, safety, sustainability, and cost-efficiency.
Benefits of Our Systems:
- No plastic bottles or delivery fees
- On-demand cold, hot, and ambient water
- Reverse osmosis filtration built in
- Professional installation and maintenance included
- Scalable options for small offices to large organizations
Whether you manage a school, healthcare center, corporate office, or nonprofit, our systems help ensure the people you care about have access to clean, safe drinking water every day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
❓ Is Legionnaires’ disease spread through drinking water?
No. It spreads through inhalation of aerosolized water droplets such as mist from cooling towers, fountains, or poorly maintained plumbing systems. However, maintaining clean water helps reduce risk factors associated with Legionella growth.
❓ Can a reverse osmosis water cooler remove Legionella?
Yes. Reverse osmosis systems can remove Legionella from water before it enters your dispensers or appliances. While it doesn’t treat airborne sources, it’s a critical line of defense for internal water systems.
❓ How do I know if my office water is safe?
Request a free TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) test from Document Solutions. High levels of TDS can signal a broader issue with contaminants or poor filtration.
❓ Are bottleless water coolers better than bottled delivery?
Yes. Our bottleless systems are eco-friendly, eliminate plastic waste, reduce costs over time, and provide continuous purified water using reverse osmosis, not stored water that may stagnate.
❓ Do you serve offices outside NYC?
Absolutely. Document Solutions provides reverse osmosis water systems to businesses across New York City and New Jersey, including Central Harlem, Manhattan, the Bronx, Jersey City, Edison, and beyond.
Get a Free Water Assessment Today
In the wake of this Legionella outbreak, water safety should be top of mind for every building in NYC. Take action now before a problem occurs.
👉 Schedule a free on-site water test
👉 Talk to our experts about reverse osmosis solutions
📞 Contact Document Solutions
Website: www.dsbls.com
Phone: (888) 880-3377
Service Areas: New York City, Central Harlem, The Bronx, Manhattan, New Jersey, and more!
Protect your business with clean, safe, great-tasting water installed and serviced by Document Solutions, your local experts in eco-friendly, bacteria-free water systems.
