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NYC Council to weigh new cooling tower rules after deadly Legionnaires’ outbreak
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 8, 2025
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By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 8, 2025
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Cooling towers could soon be tested as frequently as once a month if the New York City Council moves forward with a bill aimed at further mitigating the spread of the potentially lethal Legionnaires' disease.
The bill comes after a recent outbreak in Harlem this summer that killed seven people and sickened 114. The health department was able to track the Harlem outbreak to two city buildings, one of which was Harlem Hospital.
The bill, sponsored by Councilmember Lynn Schulman from Queens, would stipulate that building owners perform a biocide treatment of each tower during warm weather, when growth of the Legionella bacteria is at its highest. Hundreds of cases of Legionnaires' disease — a form of pneumonia spread by inhaling water droplets or mist containing Legionella, which can contaminate cooling towers — have been reported in New York City each year.
The number of inspections dropped to historic lows since Mayor Eric Adams took office as mayor in 2022, according to a recent Gothamist analysis. But the city has begun hiring more inspectors to safeguard its cooling towers since the most recent outbreak.
The Council's health committee will meet on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the new bill ahead of a stated meeting that same day, where it could go to a vote.
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Health and Science
Politics
new york city
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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