U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria conducts routine Legionella bacteria testing in all garrison communities.
Environmental Final Governing Standards for Germany require the annual monitoring of bathroom showers for Legionella bacteria at locations meeting technical criteria throughout USAG Bavaria, to include on-post housing and tenant unit buildings. These standsards are a regulatory directive, aligning both Department of Defense policy and German federal and state regulations to provide environmental compliance criteria for all DOD installations.
Legionella is a type of bacterium found naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made water systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 10 minute sampling process requires an outsourced contractor from a German certified testing laboratory to enter your home for the collection of a hot water sample from the bathroom shower. Samples are sent to the lab with results reported within 60 days. If Legionella is detected above the Final Governing Standards for Germany action limit, residents will be notified and corrective actions taken immediately.
All structures containing showers — which meet the technical criteria in accordance with an Installation Management Command Europe tasker for routine monitoring of Legionella bacteria — will receive notice of selection for participation. A notification letter from the Housing, Utilities and Environmental Division will be issued to selected residents, during the testing period.
USAG Bavaria notes that this sampling is not connected to the lead testing. Preparation measures differ for each of these surveys and some buildings may be subject to both, dependent on the technical criteria met for each.
For questions regarding this testing effort, contact:
USAG Bavaria Environmental Division at DSN 526- 4280, CIV 09641-70-526-4280.
For any medical questions you may have about Legionella, contact:
MEDDAC-Bavaria Preventive Medicine at DSN 590-3966, CIV 09662-83-3966.
USAG Bavaria is committed to the health and safety of our Soldiers, family members and workforce. For more information on Legionella and why routine test monitoring is performed, visit www.cdc.gov/legionella/about/causes-transmission.html.