Legionnaires’ disease can be acquired when an individual breathes in water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. Water within cooling towers is heated via heat exchange, which is an ideal environment for Legionella heat-loving bacteria to grow. Top of Page Cooling towers and Legionnaires’ diseaseĬooling towers contain large amounts of water and are potential breeding grounds for Legionella bacteria if they are not properly disinfected and maintained. Industrial cooling towers are larger than HVAC systems and are used to remove heat absorbed in the circulating cooling water systems used in power plants, petroleum refineries, petrochemical plants, natural gas processing plants, food processing plants, and other industrial facilities. HVAC systems are used typically in large office buildings, schools, and hospitals. More than 1,500 industrial facilities use large quantities of water to cool their plants 2. Cooling towers provide a cost-effective and energy efficient operation of systems in need of cooling. Top of Page What are cooling towers used for?Ĭooling towers are primarily used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and industrial purposes. Cooling towers provide large scale air-conditioning where land and (or) water are expensive, or regulations prohibit the return of once-through cooling waters 1. The cooled water is collected at the bottom of the tower and pumped back into the plant or building for reuse. This heat and evaporated water flow out the top of the tower in the form of a fine cloud-like mist. As the air passes through the water, heat is exchanged and some of the water evaporates. Air comes in from the sides of the tower and passes through the falling water. Cooling towers and Legionnaires' diseaseĪ cooling tower is designed to remove heat from a building or facility by spraying water down through the tower to exchange heat into the inside of the building.

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