Fears are rising among Harlem residents following the diagnosis of two cases of Legionnaires' disease within the same apartment complex, marking the second occurrence in under a year. According to Gothamist, 3333 Broadway's Towers A and B are under scrutiny for potential Legionella bacteria in their plumbing systems. The city's health department, along with building management, is taking action to test and address the situation.
As residents grapple with concerns over their safety and the adequacy of precautionary measures, the health department has mandated the building owner to hire specialists to assess the water system's vulnerability to Legionella bacteria. A meeting held by the department and the management company Urban American was sparsely attended, leading to a subsequent gathering that included local officials and the Harlem Legionnaires Task Force, as reported in a statement obtained by Gothamist. Kari Hegarty, a spokesperson for Urban American, reassured that they are "working in lockstep" with the health department to ensure the residents' safety.
The Department of Health told PIX11 that they've confirmed the building lacks a cooling tower, which was linked to the previous widespread outbreak in Central Harlem. Ricky Wong, the Assistant Commissioner of Government Affairs at the Department of Health, said, "There is no cooling tower at this complex; we’ve established that. We are looking specifically at the hot water supply since Legionella likes to grow in hot water environments." Residents are advised to take warm baths instead of hot showers to minimize the risk of spreading Legionella through water vapor.
Notices posted in the building have outlined the key responses, including isolating the cause and fixing the problem, as well as implementing safety precautions for Towers A and B — a protective measure for the entire complex. Peggy Drayton, a longtime resident, expressed the daily challenges faced by seniors in an interview with PIX11: "We can’t take showers, there are a lot of things we can’t do, and we don’t have people who are coming here really to assist us." Despite the ongoing efforts, there is currently no estimate on when the test results of the plumbing system will be available.
