❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses Legionella monitoring following the Muja D cooling tower collapse. Monitoring was commissioned, performed by Nalco, and resumed after cleaning and refilling the basin. No elevated Legionella counts were detected immediately before the collapse.
AnsweredQoN 3244Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the collapse of the Muja D cooling tower, and I ask: (a) following the collapse, was there any monitoring commissioned in respect of Legionnaires Disease, and if so: (i) who performed this monitoring; (ii) when did it commence, and if it has ceased, when did it cease; and (iii) has the monitoring detected any Legionella bacteria?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2015
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
82 days
(a) Yes
(i) An independent contractor, Nalco and all samples tested at a Nata accredited laboratory.
(ii) Muja manages its cooling water systems to the requirements of AS/NZ 3666: Air-handling and water systems of buildings and AS 5059: Legionella control Australia. Power Stations Cooling Water Systems - Management of Legionnaires' Disease Health Risk.
Previously testing occurred monthly, and in the last 12 months testing was instigated on a weekly basis.
(iii) Samples taken (3 November 2014) immediately before the collapse of M7 cooling tower, confirmed there was no elevated count at the time of the collapse.
Following the collapse, the affected cooling tower basin was completely drained, isolated and cleaned, which minimised the risk of personnel being exposed to Legionella. As the basin was drained there was no requirement for ongoing monitoring.
Once the basin was re-filled on 17 December 2014, the testing regime as outlined above was resumed.
(i) An independent contractor, Nalco and all samples tested at a Nata accredited laboratory.
(ii) Muja manages its cooling water systems to the requirements of AS/NZ 3666: Air-handling and water systems of buildings and AS 5059: Legionella control Australia. Power Stations Cooling Water Systems - Management of Legionnaires' Disease Health Risk.
Previously testing occurred monthly, and in the last 12 months testing was instigated on a weekly basis.
(iii) Samples taken (3 November 2014) immediately before the collapse of M7 cooling tower, confirmed there was no elevated count at the time of the collapse.
Following the collapse, the affected cooling tower basin was completely drained, isolated and cleaned, which minimised the risk of personnel being exposed to Legionella. As the basin was drained there was no requirement for ongoing monitoring.
Once the basin was re-filled on 17 December 2014, the testing regime as outlined above was resumed.
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