Legionella bacteria found in water at two MD schools

BEL AIR, MD — High levels of Legionella bacteria have been found in the water at two Harford County schools, causing the water to be shut off until the systems are super chlorinated.

No cases of the disease associated with Legionella have been reported, according to media reports.

According to County Executive James M. Harkins, Joppatowne High School and Magnolia Middle School systems will remain closed until 100 percent of the Legionella bacteria are eliminated from the water, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the school's on-site water systems were being super chlorinated today, and the schools will not re-open until the water tests negative for the bacteria.

The Sun said the schools do not have a back-flow prevention system that would keep contaminated water from flowing into county water supplies.

The shutdown is also to ensure the safety of the county's water system, the newspaper said, and Harkins ordered immediate Legionella testing of the county's water system "to be on the safe side."

County officials learned of the higher levels after samples collected during routine testing from a showerhead at Joppatowne High and a faucet at Magnolia Middle were analyzed on Monday, the Sun reported.

Legionella is a common bacterium in the environment, but in rare cases can lead to Legionnaire's disease, can be fatal, AP said.