Ben wrote:
I would have thought there would be enough flow in most pipes to wash
out any eddies.
Only modern cases I've seen of Legionella were in a hospital I worked
in- hot water supply was scalding hot to prevent problems.
Unfortunately, the piping had been modified as the hospital grew. The
consequence was that the main hot water pipe had a bypass- a hot water
pipe had been taken off the supply then reattached at a seperate point
nearer the ward in question. This gave the water two different routes
to take- one was high resistance so very little (if any) bothered to
go that way. The consequential stasis in a moderately hot environment
was Legionella friendly, and this contaminated water was slowly
"drip-fed" back into the water supply near the ward. The ward in
question was for people with impaired immune systems and lung
problems- and the main water supply effected went straight to the
showers.... Couldn't have been worse really! IE people at risk from
infection (lung infection particularly) breathing in nebulised
Legionella! Luckily the infection was reasonably contained (though
there were sadly deaths)... A cautionary tale!!

Ben

BTW, most people think it's to do with infection whilst in the Foreign
Legion.

Actually not correct. The American Legion after which the diesease is named
has no connection with the (French) Foreign Legion. Details about the
American Legion here

www.legion.org


It was first recognised in a hotel
in Phoenix, Arizona (and is also sometimes called Phoenix disease). It
was, however, recognised, amongst people visiting the hotel for a
convention of ex-members of the aforesaid Legion....

Wrong again.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/top...a/gen_info.htm

for more detail.


Peter Crosland