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:
- 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
- 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
cooling.tower@health.ny.gov
518-402-7650
Rockland County Dept. of Health
erlichj@co.rockland.ny.us
845-364-3682
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