- One Location within Rhodes State Office Tower tested for Legionella Bacteria
- Bacteria causes Legionnaire’s Disease
- State official Say There is No Connection Between Legionella and State Worker Diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease
New test results show that legionella bacteria was found in a location in the Rhodes Tower; the same area of the building had tested positive for the bacteria previously, state officials confirmed today.
The results now mark the third year in which the bacteria was found in that building, 10 Investigates found from reviewing state records.
Officials from the Ohio Department of Administrative Services released the findings of the latest test results late Thursday afternoon. They show chlorination indicated levels above OSHA recommended limits in 1 of 31 testing locations.
Post-chlorination test results are still upcoming.
As a result of the findings, DAS is providing hand sanitizer in kitchenettes and restrooms on each floor and closed off the men’s locker room in the building basement, where the highest levels were found, Deputy Director Tom Hoyt said.
For some, a caution about the water in the Rhodes Tower has been well known for years.
“When I was first elected and went to the Rhodes Tower one of the first things people there said was don't drink the water. Most people in the Rhodes Tower don’t drink the water,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine told 10 Investigates today.
DAS tested the water in January after news reports cited that a state employee who works at the Rhodes Tower was diagnosed with with legionnaire diseases.
The state Department of Administrative Services manages the Rhodes Office Tower. They declined an interview today.
Hoyt confirmed that was a test result from 2014 that showed a concerning level. However, he said two other tests in June 2014 that did not show the same elevated levels of harmful bacteria.
The first 2014 test showed bacteria at Rhodes State Office Tower was at level that was considered a "moderately high concern." Those elevated levels were located in the basement, 29th and 36th floors. A pipe was removed and officials say they chlorinated the water in 2014.
However, despite the 2014 results, no state plan is in place to deal with bacteria.
10 Investigates obtained a draft version of the state action plan dated February 9th, 2016. It calls for enhanced testing procedures for all state office buildings for water safety.
Union officials say there are concerned more hasn’t been done.
“We just met with DAS Personnel today where they had told our staff at OCSEA that there was no plan in development, nothing to discuss on the issue,” said Chris Mabe, OCSEA President.
And they said they were angry they learned about the 2014 findings from 10 Investigates, not from the state.
“To find out, since 2014, this has basically just been left to chance instead of having proactive measures and conversations to provide the simplest thing of clean and safe healthy drinking water in a working environment, it's astounding. It's an insult to working people in this nation,” said Mabe, disputing whether the treatment plan is being used.
Legionella bacteria is not transmitted person to person - only via drinking water - or water vapor, according to the Center for Disease Control. Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness , a high fever followed by a pneumonia like lung infection. Treatment normally includes common antibiotics.
