HARRISBURG, PA, Sept. 28, 2015 -- Routine water testing recently conducted at the Southeastern Veterans' Center (SEVC) in Spring City, Pa., has identified the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water treatment system. No cases have been reported of any residents having a physical aliment or diagnosis of Legionaries Disease. Currently, there is only a presence of the bacteria.
Testing was conducted by ProAsys®, a regional water treatment service company headquartered in Berks County, Pa., and results were provided to the home on Thursday, Sept. 24. As required, the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA) notified the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the federal VA and immediately implemented a remediation plan in coordination with the contractor and staff.
A variety of actions are being taken to sanitize the water system that include: changing and/or disinfecting all aerators and shower heads throughout the facility, flushing and performing a thermal shock to the hot water tanks, chlorinating the domestic hot water system, disinfecting the cooling towers, and then retesting the cooling towers and domestic hot water system after all disinfections are complete.
The Southeastern Veterans' Center is one of six state facilities operated by the Pennsylvania DMVA. The facilities serve a total of 1,554 eligible veterans and their spouses across Pennsylvania. The other locations include the Delaware Valley Veterans' Home in Philadelphia, the Gino J. Merli Veterans' Center in Scranton, the Hollidaysburg Veterans' Home in Hollidaysburg, the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Erie, and the Southwestern Veterans' Center in Pittsburgh.
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