The spigots are back on at Westmoreland Manor.

County officials said the latest test results found no traces of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease in the water at the Hempfield nursing home.

“Effective Feb. 17, 2020, all water precautions in place at Westmoreland Manor were lifted due to the county receiving negative results on post-chlorination testing of the water supply. Normal routines are being re-established,” Westmoreland County solicitor Melissa Guiddy said in a statement Wednesday.

For more than three weeks, 400 residents and hundreds of workers at the county-owned facility were prohibited from using tap water to drink, for hygiene or for cleaning after Legionella bacteria were found in the water. Tests were first conducted after the state Department of Health reported Jan. 24 that a current or former Manor resident had been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

A first attempt to eradicate the bacteria by heating the water failed, forcing the county to pay more than $16,000 to a private company to flush the water system with chlorine. That process was completed in early February, but final testing to confirm the bacteria was gone took an additional week.

Through mid-February, the county said it spent more than $7,000 to purchase bottles and jugs of water for Manor residents.

“I think it went spectacular and everybody is now happy and content,” Angela Knauff, the Manor’s director, said of the staff and residents. “It was a real team effort, and it couldn’t have gone any better.”

County Commissioner Sean Kertes said no other illnesses or pneumonia-like symptoms were reported.

“Our staff went above and beyond to have everything done the way it needed to be,” Kertes said.

Officials believe the Legionella bacteria were confined to the Manor, but water testing is expected to begin as early as next week at the county jail, juvenile detention center and forensic office building, which are on the same campus as the nursing home.

“We will test those properties to be sure there’s no issues,” Kertes said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)