Effective July 12, 2024, Ohio introduced updates to Rule 3701-16-12 of the Ohio Administrative Code, which requires residential care facilities to have protocols for investigating cases of Legionnaires’ disease and implementing a water management program to control Legionella and other waterborne pathogens.
Water management program implementation
Every residential care facility in Ohio must establish and implement an effective water management program to:
- Identify hazardous conditions in the facility’s water system where Legionella and other waterborne pathogens could grow and spread.
- Set and monitor control measures (e.g., temperature) and take corrective action (e.g., supplemental disinfection) if they’re not met.
- Follow guidelines and best practices on water management programs from the CDC and the 2019 Environmental Infection Control Guidelines from the United States center for disease control and prevention healthcare infection control practice advisory committee (HICPAC) or its successors.
Why this matters
Waterborne pathogens, particularly Legionella, can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe type of pneumonia that spreads through contaminated water systems. Older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems—many of whom reside in assisted living facilities—are at higher risk of infection.
Without proper water management, Legionella bacteria can grow in:
- Hot water tanks and heaters
- Cooling towers
- Plumbing systems with stagnant water
- Decorative fountains and other water features
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease can be deadly, cause legal liability for facilities, and damage trust with residents and their families.
Legionnaires’ disease case investigation procedures
Alongside prevention, facilities must be prepared to respond swiftly and effectively when a suspected or confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease arises.
The rule requires facilities to:
- Identify possible sources of Legionella exposure within the water system.
- Coordinate the investigation with the existing water management program, including review of control measures, monitoring data, and any recent deviations.
- Take immediate corrective actions to remediate the water system and prevent additional infections, such as:
- Installing point-of-use filters on sinks and showers
- Conducting building-wide water remediation
- Implementing long-term supplemental disinfection
- Report the cases and corrective actions taken to local and state health departments.
- Review and update the water management program to reflect:
- Plumbing system changes
- New water treatment equipment
- Additional measures to mitigate future risk
These steps help contain the risk, prevent further infections, and strengthen the facility’s overall water safety strategy.
How to comply with the requirements
To comply with the water management program and case investigation requirements, residential care facilities should:
- Develop a water management and case investigation plan
- Work with a third-party ASSE 12080 certified expert to develop a water management program that covers both prevention and case response.
- Include both a risk assessment of the building’s water system and protocols for investigating suspected Legionnaires’ cases.
- Implement risk management strategies
- Establish temperature controls to prevent bacterial growth.
- Use water treatment and filtration systems to proactively mitigate risk.
- Integrate corrective action plans that can be deployed during case investigations.
- Monitor and maintain water systems regularly
- Work with a third-party ASSE 12080 certified expert to perform routine water quality testing.
- Keep detailed records of maintenance and corrective actions.
- Train staff on waterborne disease prevention and response
- Educate personnel on how Legionella spreads, how to recognize potential symptoms, and what to do during an outbreak investigation.
- Ensure staff members are trained to initiate investigation procedures quickly and collaborate with public health authorities.
- Follow guidelines
- The CDC’s overview of water management programs provides detailed steps for compliance.
- HICPAC’s Environmental Infection Control Guidelines offer additional best practices for infection control.
A proactive approach to resident safety
By requiring water management programs and case investigation procedures, Ohio’s updated Rule 3701-16-12 aims to reduce the risk of deadly waterborne infections in residential care facilities. Compliance with this rule is a critical safety measure that protects residents, staff, and visitors from illness.
Ready to get started? Contact LiquiTech today to see how we can help your facility comply with Ohio Rule 3701-16-12 and protect your occupants.
