Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

Legionella is a type of bacteria that can become a health concern when found in man-made water systems. While buildings remain closed due to the pandemic, it is important that water systems are well maintained to prevent future health issues like Legionella. If breathed in through droplets in the air, the bacteria can cause Legionnaires' disease, a respiratory illness with some similar symptoms to COVID-19 e.g. a fever, cough, shortness of breath. The European Working Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) has put together a guidance document on how to best manage Legionella in building water systems during this COVID-19 outbreak. Consider ESGLI guidance to manage the safety of buildings' water systems:

https://www.rsph.org.uk/membership/webinars/how-to-ensure-your-building-water-system-is-safe-during-and-post-covid-19.html

This should seek to maintain operations whilst minimising virus transmission. For example, operations in Paris:

• Wash and disinfect collection trucks every day
• Prioritise the collection of unauthorized garbage and street cleaning (using street washers and vacuum cleaners on pathways)
• Collect waste from streets e.g. each day ~1,000 municipal workers, ~250 garbage collection trucks, and ~100 road sweeping machines collect waste from the streets
• Clean ~140 public toilets in order to keep them open - thereby provide considerable health and dignity benefits to the most vulnerable. These facilities also have drinking water fountains
• Plan to manage the surge in the volume of waste when restaurants reopen (in Paris, the volume of daily waste has fallen by a third during closedown)