Experiencing Legionnaires Disease due to Water Heater?
 

Getting over LD. I use my hot water for cooking & even drinking tea straight from my faucet everyday. WHAT I HAVE DONE!!! (at least I am still alive.) I had my W/H tank deep cleaned- OMG!!! How rusty my W/H water was just like in a video I watched. Mine is 10yrs old. How about yours? Anyway, my water is clean, antibiotics are working, and I'm feeling better now. Has anyone else experienced this? You may consider getting a deep clean. Have a clean water day!

I found this on line about it. Kind of scary.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria. You usually get it by breathing in mist from water that contains the bacteria. The mist may come from hot tubs, showers, or air-conditioning units for large buildings. The bacteria doesn't spread from person to person.Oct 14, 2016

OK LBren, your post implies you got LD from the Villages water supply, do you have any proof? 10 years old for a water heater, is end of life, it should be replaced, and I find it very improbable that LD bacteria could exist there, it is TOO HOT! Now your AC system could be a source. The water supply here is so heavily chlorinated that I doubt there would be any way this bacteria could exist in it.
If you have any proof to your implications, please provide, or clarify your original post.

villagetinker, I went online to research how I even acquired LD. I exercise and eat right. The only thing I found that could possibly relate to me, was the video I watched on YT called look what we found in this water heater, which was in The Villages. In the description, they mentioned LD. At this point, I do not know how I got it. BTW my temperature is set at 130 deg. I read to kill bacteria i should turn it up to 160 for 1 hour. So I think it might be in my water heater.

I've never heard of Legionella in a hot water heater, but it may be possible. However, Legionnaire's disease is generally a point outbreak from contaminated water. If it was "in The Villages water supply", we would have hundreds, maybe thousands of cases given the age of the population.

Oh, so maybe I got LD from taking hot showers. I think I did the right thing then getting my WH deep cleaned.

VERY irresponsible topic title.

"Legionella is an aquatic bacteria that thrives in warm water environments, and is the cause of Legionnaires Disease. It is commonly found in potable water supplies, hot tubs, cooling towers, fountains, swimming pools, etc. and multiplies in warm conditions especially between 68 – 122 °F. The Legionella bacteria can spread to humans when breathed in."

Hot Water Heater Safety & Temperature: Legionella Prevention

Agreed, the water contamination is specifically local, not systemwide.

Skepticle
 

LBren, I just watched the video(s) on YouTube that you mentioned. There are two of them and were both posted within the past 3 days.
I did not hear or read anything in there about Legionnaires.

I would also like to know where you got that info that led you to that conclusion.

To me this looks like an advertisement for a particular plumbing company to scare up some business.

I use my hot water for cooking & even drinking tea straight from my faucet everyday

Why would anyone drink from a tank, hot or cold when you have fresh mains water?
Use fresh, and boil for cooking and hot drinks.
As for LD??

Thx for all of the input. I think I can conclude I got LD not from drinking the hot water, but from showering and breathing the stream from which my WH was contaminated. BTW was using less energy using hot water to heat up in the mic, or stove. Wont do that again.

Is someone trying to sell us a service, or a product? We have only had 2 water heaters in 27 years up north, no issues.

Most likely from a poorly cared for hot tub.

LBren:

don't let these naysayers discourage you. sorry you are not feeling well but it appears you are healing well.

I am so impressed with your quick recovery for this normally long lasting illness that I would like to have the doctor that diagnosed and treated you for this disease in the event I contract LD.

Personal Best Regards: