Water at Hempfield nursing home to be treated with chlorine to kill suspected Legionella bacteria

Additional efforts at Westmoreland Manor to remove the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease will begin this week.

The thermal eradication process started at the end of last week to kill suspected Legionella bacteria found in water at the Hempfield nursing home was unsuccessful, Westmoreland County officials said in a statement released late Monday afternoon. The county was unable to keep the water hot enough for the procedure to work, officials said.

“Due to the inability to maintain the required water temperature for thermal eradication, the county will now begin remediation efforts in the form of super chlorination,” according to the statement released by Solicitor Melissa Guiddy. “It is anticipated that this process will start on Thursday and conclude Friday. Upon completion of the remediation, additional testing will be conducted. All precautions will continue to remain in place until further notice.”

That new process involves flushing the facility’s water distribution system with chlorine to kill the suspected Legionella bacteria.

County officials were notified Jan. 24 by the state Department of Health that a current or former Manor resident was diagnosed with pneumonia related to Legionnaires’ disease. Residents and staff were immediately instructed to not drink the water at the 400-bed facility.

Residents have for more than a week been given bottled water to drink and to use for cleaning and hygiene. Staff were instructed to furnish their own bottled water.

Preliminary testing revealed the presence of “probable Legionella ” at the nursing home and additional tests were expected Monday that possibly confirm the presence of the bacteria. County officials on Monday did not disclose the results of the testing.