NJ Bill 2188

The NJ Governor signed Bill 2188 on September 12th, 2024.

This bill “requires DEP, DOH, owners/operators of certain public water systems, and owners/operators of certain buildings or facilities to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires’ disease”.

Who Bill No. 2188 Affects

Owners/operators of public water systems with 100 or more service connections.

Owner/operators of certain buildings, in particular:

• Healthcare facilities licensed under P.L.1971, c.136 where patient stays exceed 24 hours.
• Any building containing areas for housing or treating occupants that are immunocompromised or, in general, at risk including nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
• Any building containing a whirlpool, spa, pool, cooling/evaporative tower providing heating/air conditioning, ornamental fountain, mister, atomizer, air wash, humidifier, or any device that releases aerosols.
• Any building that is more than 6 stories high, including any level below grade, with a centralized potable water-heater system.
• Correctional facilities
• Buildings with a centralized hot water system that is shared by at least 25 units for transient use.

Public water system requirements

• Maintaining a residual disinfectant level ≥0.3 ppm of free chlorine or ≥1 ppm of monochloramine, proven by frequent and regular residual testing.
• Annual reports to the Department of Environmental Protection.
• Providing written notice to users and DEP when a disruption of the public water system increases or could increase the level of Legionella bacteria in the system, within 24 hours of the disruption occurrence.

Consequences for noncompliant public water systems include:

• DEP investigation that can lead to penalties for violations of minimum disinfectant residual targets
• For every reported diagnosis of Legionnaires` disease the Department of Health will conduct an investigation which includes the sampling of water and fixtures.

Building Requirements

The building owner/operator must develop a water management plan consistent with ASHRAE standard 188-2018 or comparable standards. The plan must be available to any department or agency with a license or inspection authority upon request

All the sampling shall include but not limited to testing for Legionella Pneumophila. The testing must be conducted according to ASHRAE standard 188-2018 and local regulations.

Consequences for noncompliant building water systems include:

An owner/operator who fails to implement a water management program will be subject to penalties that can reach $10,000 for any violation which causes serious injury or death of to any person.

Sanipur US and our distributors

Sanipur and its distributors can provide their expertise in water treatment and regulatory compliance, focusing on providing water management plans and eliminating Legionella and other pathogens with SANIKILL Monochloramine generators and Point of Use Legionella Filters.