CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – Cuyahoga County is informing the public that recent testing of the water system at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center has detected the presence of Legionella bacteria. The affected areas include portions of the Justice Center Atrium, Jail One, and Tower One, which share a common water system. Other areas of the complex operate off a separate water system and are not impacted. The Courthouse is open for normal operations.

The water at the Justice Center is safe for normal use. There are no known cases of illness associated with Legionella bacteria in Cuyahoga County. Out of an abundance of caution and based on CDC guidance, the County is notifying the public and taking swift action to address the issue and protect the health and safety of our staff, stakeholders, and those in our custody. We have consulted with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the Cleveland Department of Public Health, and MetroHealth on the issue.

The County conducts regular testing of the Justice Center’s water system in accordance with our Water Management Plan. The tests were conducted on March 19. The results received on March 31 confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria. The levels of Legionella bacteria detected within the Justice Center water system are very unlikely to cause illness.

To protect the health and safety of all building occupants, the Department of Public Works, in collaboration with environmental consultants, is disinfecting the domestic water system today. Generally, normal water operations will not be affected by the disinfection process. The disinfectant will not contaminate the water. It is safe, odorless, and tasteless.

The Public Works team has done and is currently taking the following additional steps:

• Immediately shut off the water sources where Legionella bacteria was detected
• Installing a Point of Use Filtration system with 0.2-micron biological filtration to remove bacterial agents
• Flushed and disinfecting the water system to reduce bacterial presence
• Conducted a thorough assessment of the entire water system and further evaluation of all water components
• Scheduled further testing to confirm that all areas are free of Legionella bacteria

Legionella bacteria can potentially pose a health risk if droplets are inhaled into the lungs from a shower or mist, especially to individuals with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.

Legionella bacteria is often found naturally in bodies of water and can enter all manmade water systems. It is usually in concentrations that are not detectable. The presence of the bacteria does not automatically mean that people will become sick or that there will be a widespread illness. It is also not spread through the normal drinking of water. The water at the Justice Center is safe to drink.

The County will continue to monitor the system and conduct additional testing to confirm the issue is resolved.