Cooling Towers

Protection Against Legionella

A cooling tower is part of a recirculated water system incorporated into a building's cooling, industrial, refrigeration or energy production system. Cooling towers are routinely tested for Legionella to assess the effectiveness of routine disinfection and maintenance.

Requirements for owners of all cooling towers in Rockland County:

• Register all cooling towers in the New York State Cooling Tower Registry and update at least every 90 days while the tower is operational.
• Implement a Maintenance Program and Plan, including inspections at startup and at least every 90 days.
• Test cooling towers for bacteria at least every 30 days.
• Test cooling towers for Legionella at least every 90 days using ELAP accredited lab.
• Notify New York State Dept. of Health and Rockland County Dept. of Health if elevated levels of Legionella are found.
• Certify cooling towers by November 1 each year; download certification template.

Forms & Resources

• Certification Template
• Cooling Tower Owner's Guide
• Cooling Tower Registry- Change of Account Ownership Request Form
• Cooling Tower Registry- Instruction Guide
• Maintenance Program and Plan
• New York State Sanitary Code, Part 4- Protection Against Legionella

Related Links

• Accredited Environmental Laboratories
• ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 Legionellosis-Risk Management for Building Water Systems
• Legionella and Cooling Towers- questions and answers
• New York State Cooling Tower Registry
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation- info on biocide products
• New York State Department of Health- cooling tower requirements

For additional information, please contact:

New York State Dept. of Health
518-402-7650
cooling.tower@health.ny.gov

Rockland County Dept. of Health
845-364-3682
erlichj@co.rockland.ny.us

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