According to recent test results, Legionella bacteria continue to persist in the water at Baltimore's State Center office complex. Despite a recent sanitization effort, which one would reasonably expect to solve the problem, the buildings are still grappling with the bacteria. Foreshadowed by a November 8 discovery of "elevated levels of legionella," as detailed by Fox Baltimore, employees hoped the issue would quickly be resolved.
Despite remediation efforts, the Maryland Department of Health continues to advise employees not to drink the building water, as conveyed in an email warning them to await further test results. The recurring presence of the bacteria after the buildings were meant to be cleared is causing continued concern amongst the over 4,000 workers. Workers are notably urged to use bottled water provided by the Department of General Services (DGS), a stopgap that has become a staple of their daily routine.
Water safety at the State Center has become an ongoing problem. The complex, home to several state agencies like the Department of Labor and MDH, faces the irony of a health advisory at a workplace focused on public health. Previous fixes, like installing water filters, were only temporary solutions. Now, DGS is conducting another round of flushing and sanitizing the affected buildings.
Amid this steadily brewing situation, a "Town Hall" meeting conducted last Thursday featured Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott, who candidly disclosed that "we don't have the all-clear because the testing that is being done needs to grow the bacteria in a lab in order to confirm if it is still there. That takes 7-10 days," according to an employee statement cited by The Baltimore Brew.
