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Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 6, 2026
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By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 6, 2026
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Legionella bacteria was detected in a Staten Island apartment complex’s water system last week after two residents were diagnosed over the last year with Legionnaires’ disease, city health officials said.
Residents of 185 Saint Mark’s Place, one of two towers at the Castleton Park Apartments complex, received the health department’s notice that their water system had tested positive for the bacteria on Sept. 28, informing them the agency was working with building management to address the issue.
The notice to Castleton Park residents said the building’s tap water is safe to drink, and that the risk of getting sick from a building’s water system is very low, especially for healthy people. But people aged 50 or older, those who smoke, vape, have chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems are at higher risk, the notice said. It advised residents to take precautions to limit their exposure to water vapor, such as not taking showers since they create mist, and instead using their tubs or buckets to bathe.
Residents told Gothamist many living at the complex are part of those vulnerable populations, including many low-income and underserved residents, older adults, people with disabilities, and residents living with serious or chronic health conditions, including two floors of the building served by United Cerebral Palsy.
They said their building management, which is handled by CAMBA Housing Venture and Stellar Management, did not attend a building community meeting about the situation on Oct. 1, and has not provided assistance or further guidance on safety measures. CAMBA Housing Ventures and Stellar Management did not return requests for comment.
“It makes you feel very defeated,” said Tremain McDowell, president of the Tenant Association at Castleton Park, which is located on Staten Island's North Shore. ”The people that we pay our rent to are supposed to now aid us in making sure that we have the ability to enforce these things or, or implement these things, and we don't have that.”
The situation comes after two deadly outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease this summer on the Upper East Side and in the Bronx. But unlike the Staten Island cases, those outbreaks were linked to rooftop cooling towers that spread bacteria around the neighborhood as they emitted water vapor.
Health officials are also investigating a water system at the North Shore Towers in the Glen Oaks neighborhood of Queens. Such tests are required any time two or more people test positive for Legionnaires’ disease in the same building over the course of a year.
A small number of Legionnaires’ cases each year are caused by bacteria growing in plumbing systems where water remains warm or stagnant, and can spread through showerheads and faucets. People can get Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling water, mist or vapor containing Legionella. It can’t be contracted by drinking water containing the bacteria, or spread person to person.
“While Legionella bacteria has been confirmed, it is important to note that there is no risk to the surrounding community,” DOH spokesperson Chantal Gomez said in a statement. “Remediation is underway and the health department will continue to provide residents with updates and guidance."
Despite the assurances that it’s not a community outbreak, and that most people don’t get sick from Legionella bacteria in plumbing systems, residents of 185 Saint Mark’s Place said they’ve been dealing with constant anxiety since receiving the notice.
“People are confused, people are angry,” McDowell said. “These buildings have gone through a lot.”
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Health and Science
staten island
Catalina Gonella
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