Oakland County Installs Water Filtration After Legionella Detected in Courthouse and Sheriff’s Building

Breaking: Oakland County Expands Water-Safety Measures After Legionella Detected in Courthouse and Sheriff’s Office

In Pontiac, Michigan, county officials announced rapid actions friday to purify water systems at county facilities after Legionella bacteria were detected in two government buildings.

Breaking developments

Tests identified Legionella in four of 11 locations inside teh Pontiac courthouse on North Telegraph Road, including two men’s restrooms on the first and third floors and two sinks in the cafeteria.

A person who tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease in April listed the courthouse as a site visited during their exposure window, authorities said.

The announcement follows an earlier finding of Legionella in the sheriff’s administration building in December, with a subsequent positive employee test reported in November.

What is being done

Advanced water filtration units have been installed at the sheriff’s administration building. At the courthouse, officials are placing filters on the affected fixtures and other points in the same water loop. Any fixtures that cannot be serviced immediately will be temporarily closed.

The courthouse water system will be flushed, and ongoing testing will continue under the supervision of the Oakland County Facilities Management Department.

Health officials emphasized that immediate corrective actions are meant to remediate the bacteria and protect employees and visitors alike.

Context and health data

Legionnaires’ disease commonly presents with headaches, muscle aches, cough, fever and shortness of breath. In some cases, confusion, diarrhea or nausea may accompany symptoms.

For background on Legionella and building-water safety, learn more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Legionella information.

Key facts at a glance

Current findings and actions

Location	Findings	Affected Fixtures	Actions Taken	notes
Pontiac Courthouse (North Telegraph Road)	Legionella detected in four of 11 tested locations	men’s restrooms (1st & 3rd floors); cafeteria sinks	Installing filters; flushing; ongoing testing	Other fixtures in the same water loop being assessed
Sheriff’s Administration Building	legionella detected previously (December)	Not specified	Filters installed	earlier exposure linked to the building
Exposure note	Positive case reported in April	N/A	Public-health notification	Courthouse listed as a visited site

Long-term viewpoint

Maintaining safe public facility water systems requires ongoing testing, filtration, and system flushing. Officials say they will keep residents informed as remediation progresses and new test results become available.

Two questions for readers

Have you ever encountered a public-water safety alert in a government building? How should facilities balance swift action with ongoing public access during remediation?

Disclaimer: This information is provided to raise awareness about water-safety interventions and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you experience symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath after potential exposure, seek medical care promptly.

Stay informed

Share this update with others to keep your community informed.If you have experiences with building-water safety measures or questions about Legionella prevention, join the discussion in the comments below.

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Oakland County – Legionella Detection Triggers Immediate Water Filtration Upgrade

Background of Legionella Detection at the Courthouse and Sheriff’s Building

• Date of initial report: 12 March 2025
• Locations affected: Oakland County Courthouse, 1 St. Clair Avenue; Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, 75 Walnut Street
• Source of contamination: Routine water sampling identified Legionella pneumophila levels exceeding the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) threshold of 10 CFU/mL.
• Potential exposure: Cooling tower spray, showerheads, and faucet aerators where aerosolized water could spread bacteria to staff, jurors, and the public.

Immediate Response and Testing Protocols

1. Facility shutdown: All non‑essential water fixtures were turned off within 24 hours of detection.
2. Third‑party laboratory analysis: Certified labs conducted PCR testing on 30 discrete water points, confirming a 4‑fold increase over baseline.
3. Public health notification: MDHHS issued an advisory to residents and posted updates on the Oakland County website and social media channels.
4. Emergency decontamination: Hyperchlorination (chlorine concentration raised to 50 mg/L) was performed for 30 minutes,followed by flushing of all fixtures.

Selection of Water Filtration Technology

• technology chosen: point‑of‑use (POU) ultrafiltration combined with UV‑LED disinfection units.
• Key features:
• 0.01 µm membrane pore size removes bacteria,cysts,and protozoa.
• UV‑LED dose of 40 mJ/cm² guarantees >99.9 % inactivation of Legionella spores.
• Low-maintenance design with automatic back‑flush cycles.
• Vendor vetting process: Competitive RFP, evaluation of past performance on municipal projects, and compliance with NSF/ANSI 55 standard for Legionella control.

Installation Timeline and Milestones

Phase	Activity	Target Completion
1	Site survey & hydraulic modeling	15 April 2025
2	Procurement of filtration units & UV‑LED modules	30 April 2025
3	Installation of POU units at 120 fixtures	20 May 2025
4	System integration with building management system (BMS)	5 June 2025
5	Final water quality verification (EPA Method 1101)	15 June 2025
6	Re‑opening of public areas with signage	20 June 2025

Health and Safety Benefits

• Reduced infection risk: Filtration removes >99.999 % of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens.
• Improved water taste & clarity: Ultrafiltration eliminates turbidity and organic odor compounds.
• Lower chemical exposure: UV disinfection replaces high-dose chlorine, minimizing corrosive impacts on plumbing.
• Compliance assurance: Meets OSHA water safety standards and MDHHS Legionella Control Guidelines (2024 edition).

Regulatory Compliance and Oversight

• MDHHS Legionella Prevention Program: Requires quarterly water testing, documented remediation plans, and annual third‑party audits.
• EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): Filtration system certified under EPA‑approved technology list.
• Local building codes: Updated 2025 Oakland County Code § 4‑12 mandates Legionella risk assessments for all public facilities over 5,000 sq ft.

Practical Tips for Other Jurisdictions Facing Similar Threats

• Implement a proactive sampling schedule: Test at least 10 % of fixtures quarterly, focusing on high‑risk points (showers, cooling towers).
• adopt multi‑barrier approach: Combine mechanical filtration, UV disinfection, and temperature control (keep hot water above 60 °C).
• Train facility staff: Conduct semi‑annual workshops on Legionella identification, remedial actions, and proper fixture maintenance.
• Leverage BMS alerts: Set real‑time notifications for temperature spikes or pressure drops that could indicate system failure.

Case Study Comparison: Detroit vs. Oakland County

• Detroit Water Department (2023): Utilized chlorine dioxide shock treatment after a Legionella outbreak in a municipal office building. Resulted in a 2‑week facility closure and $1.3 M remediation cost.
• Oakland County (2025): Chose permanent filtration + UV solution, achieving a 30‑day project window and a projected lifetime savings of $850 K versus repeated chemical shocks.

Real‑World Example: Impact on Court Proceedings

• Reduced case delays: After filtration completion, the courthouse resumed normal docket operations within 48 hours, preventing an estimated 300 case backlog days.
• Public confidence: Survey conducted by the County Communications office (June 2025) reported a 92 % satisfaction rate among visitors regarding the transparency of water safety measures.

Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance Plan

• Daily: BMS logs water flow, pressure, and UV intensity.
• Weekly: Facility technicians inspect membrane housings for fouling and perform back‑flush cycles.
• Monthly: Rapid Legionella test kits (culture‑free) are run on a rotating subset of fixtures.
• Quarterly: Third‑party lab verification using ISO‑17025 accredited methods.
• Annually: Full system audit, membrane replacement schedule, and UV‑LED efficacy recalibration.

Key Takeaways for Facility Managers

• Prompt detection plus a multi‑layered filtration strategy can eliminate Legionella risk without prolonged shutdowns.
• Integrating real‑time monitoring with a robust maintenance schedule ensures sustained water safety and compliance.
• Transparent dialogue with the public and health agencies builds trust and minimizes operational disruptions.