Source: http://longisland.news12.com, October 1, 2015
Detectable concentrations of legionella bacteria were found in the cooling towers of Smithtown East and West high schools, according to Smithtown Central School District.
The testing was conducted in response to the recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Bronx. The state Department of Health had issued emergency regulations requiring the registration, testing, inspection and certification of cooling towers.
The samples were taken from the towers Sept. 14.
According to a letter sent to parents, the tests results were received Wednesday, which is when the cooling towers were immediately brought offline and decontaminated by a licensed commercial pesticide applicator. The cooling towers are currently running safely.
Superintendent James Grossane said in the letter that there have been “no reported cases of the disease at either Smithtown East or Smithtown West.”
A district spokesperson said that additional decontamination will be done Thursday.