Legionella Bacteria Forces Closure of More Baltimore City Buildings

Legionella Bacteria Forces Closure of More Baltimore City Buildings

Two more Baltimore municipal buildings shut down Friday after water testing revealed elevated levels of legionella bacteria, adding to the city’s ongoing water safety concerns.

City Hall and the Abel Wolman Building, both located on Holliday Street, closed early Friday and will remain shuttered through the weekend. The mayor’s office announced that crews will conduct thorough cleaning, system maintenance, and mitigation efforts, including flushing and chlorination of the water systems.

While officials emphasized that the closure is not related to immediate public health concerns, the discovery comes just days after three Baltimore court buildings reopened following their own legionella-related closures. Those courts had been closed since December 23 for similar water treatment procedures.

The Benton Building on East Fayette Street is now under scrutiny, with test results expected by January 5. As a precautionary measure, crews will begin mitigation efforts there before results are available.

The timeline of recent legionella discoveries in Baltimore buildings:

• Four Maryland state office buildings at State Center closed last month
• Three downtown courthouses closed December 23-24 for treatment
• The Cummings MECU building tested with extremely low levels, requiring no closure
• City Hall and Abel Wolman Building closed December 29

City employees affected by the closures are being directed to follow guidance from the Office of Labor Commissioner regarding telework and leave options.

According to CDC guidance, water from systems where legionella is detected should not be consumed. The mayor’s office initiated the testing program on December 20 “out of an abundance of caution,” though such testing is not required by the Maryland Department of Health.

The affected buildings will undergo comprehensive treatment, including system flushing and chlorination, before reopening. For the courthouse treatments completed earlier this week, final test results are expected within 10-14 days of the December 24 testing.