Edelweiss water tested for Legionnaires disease

Water safety systems are in place and functioning properly, Army tests water supply in response to request from German authorities

By Rick LeBrun, ELR General Manager
and Bill Bradner, FMWRC PAO

A German man who recently passed away in Austria is believed to have had legionnaire’s disease. German medical authorities are attempting to trace the deceased man’s activities, and whereabouts, prior to his death in order to determine the source of the exposure.

The deceased recently stayed with his wife as a guest at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. In cooperation with Austrian authorities, German Medical Authorities contacted the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort and the US Army Garrison Garmisch. The US Army Bavarian region MEDDAC Preventive Medicine Office, and the US Army Center for Human Health and Preventative Medicine Europe (CHHPM-E) were immediately contacted to conduct thorough inspections of the hotel’s water distribution and treatment systems, as well as to obtain water samples for extensive testing. All initial field tests yielded normal results. As a precautionary measure, additional tests are being conducted, with those results being available in seven to ten days.
    
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort is supplied by City of Garmisch with potable water. In addition to the water treatments provided by the City of Garmisch, The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort is self equipped with a Legionnaires Preventive System (LPS), along with other control and systems that prevent water born illnesses.
    
The Legionnaires Preventive System (LPS) system at the resort has been inspected by MEDDAC and CHHPM, and has been confirmed to be functioning properly. The LPS system “superheats” water daily up to 70 degrees Celsius. The LPS at the resort also includes a water circulation system that maintains a constant flow of water within the resort’s water distribution infra structure. In addition to the LPS, the resort’s water distribution system further treats the potable city water by exposing it to UV light to further reduce the chance of any harmful bacteria from being introduced into resort’s water distribution infrastructure. 
    
Based on the age of the facility (only five years old), the high occupancy (no stagnant water in pipes) and presence of an active Legionnaires Preventive System (LPS), there is little reason to believe the exposure occurred at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. 
    
Resort Management continues to be proactive, and is cooperating fully with CHHPM, MEDDAC and MEDCOM officials.