Queens Residents Told to Avoid Showers
Two residents at North Shore Towers in Queens have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, sparking an urgent investigation by the city, according to Gothamist. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene immediately started sending letters to tenants on Friday evening. These notices warn people who smoke, have breathing issues, or are over 50 to stop taking showers to avoid inhaling dangerous mist.
This situation feels different from the deadly neighborhood-wide outbreaks seen earlier this summer on the Upper East Side and in the South Bronx. Those previous tragedies killed 13 people total and were linked to rooftop cooling towers blowing bacteria into the air. Health officials say these new Queens cases are isolated infections likely caused by plumbing systems inside the building itself.
Plumbing Risks and Cooling Tower Debate
While inspectors have not yet confirmed Legionella bacteria in the building’s pipes, the risk is real if water sits stagnant or gets too warm. Chantal Gomez, a department spokesperson, told residents that drinking the water is safe and the disease cannot spread from person to person. While stressing that illness is improbable for most, she advised anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms to consult a doctor right away.
Gomez also made a clear statement to calm fears outside the building, saying there is “no risk to the surrounding community.” This comes as the number of cases in the U.S. has jumped tenfold over the last 20 years. The city saw double the cases in 2025 compared to previous years, raising questions about how we manage our water.
Experts Argue Over Water Filtration
The debate is heating up over whether New York needs a massive, multibillion-dollar filtering plant for its Catskill water supply. Bob Bowcock, a water management expert, argues that the current city water contains dangerous bacteria that travels into building plumbing and cooling towers. He told the City Council’s health committee that “Cooling tower regulation alone is not comprehensive Legionnaires disease prevention.”
Bowcock insists that the source of the problem is the water itself, noting that “The water in the tower is the same water that runs through the entire system.” However, city officials point to studies showing only low levels of bacteria in the supply and say filtering is unnecessary. Critics suggest the push for filtration is really a front for the cooling tower industry, which worries that new rules will hurt their business.
Climate Change Makes Things Worse
Scientists warn that rising temperatures and heavier rainfall are making it harder to control these bacteria in our built environment. Annette Davison, an Australia-based water expert, noted that “Because of climate change in particular, our systems are going to be changing.” This means the old rules might not work for the weather we face today.
Some experts believe that focusing only on equipment won’t solve the bigger problem. One report states that “Equipment-focused requirements will not address New York City’s [Legionnaires’ disease] issues.” Until the city figures out how to handle these changing conditions, residents in older buildings might face more surprises like this one in Queens.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
