After system flushing, new tests show no elevated Legionella levels at 300 West Preston Street
Restrictions remain at three other buildings at Baltimore’s State Center complex and at two district courthouses
Above: One of the buildings at State Center where elevated levels of Legionella bacteria were recently found. (Fern Shen)
A state office building in Baltimore, previously closed due to elevated levels of Legionella, has had new test results come back with acceptable levels of the bacteria.
“The water quality at 300 West Preston Street was retested on November 27 after the water system was re-flushed and sanitized,” said a memo, obtained by The Brew, that was sent this week to employees who work at the building.
“The results, received on December 5, were all within the normal limits,” according to the memo, and “no extra water remediation” is needed as a result.
Employees that were previously advised not to drink the water were told that “all restrictions have been lifted, meaning the water is drinkable.”
Employees for a number of state agencies, including Budget Management and General Services, work in 300 West Preston Street.
• New testing finds Legionella at two District Court buildings as well as all of State Center (12/5/24)
Earlier this month amid complaints by employees and their unions about lack of transparency, the Maryland Department of General Services disclosed that all of the buildings at the aging cluster of offices on Baltimore’s Westside were found to have elevated levels of Legionella.
In addition, heightened levels of Legionella were found at two District Court buildings in Baltimore: 5800 Wabash Avenue and 700 East Patapsco Avenue.
The bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and sometimes fatal type of pneumonia, according to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), which, ironically, is one of the agencies housed in the affected State Center buildings.
The 201 and 300 West Preston Street and 1100 North Eutaw buildings as well as the two courthouses remain under restrictions.
People who work at these locations are advised not to drink building water (bottled water is being provided) and to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer.
Union leaders have said the state should allow employees in the affected buildings to telework.
So far, employees have been required to come to the workplaces, with DGS saying that “current precautions are aligned with Centers for Disease Control recommendations.”