What is a primary focus of developing a Legionella water management plan?

The primary focus of developing a Legionella water management plan is to prevent legionellosis by reducing the hazard of Legionella bacteria. This involves identifying potential sources of Legionella within a water system, assessing the risk of exposure, and implementing control measures to reduce or eliminate the presence of the bacteria.

Legionella is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause severe respiratory illness, including Legionnaires' disease, which can be especially dangerous for vulnerable populations. Therefore, the goal of a Legionella water management plan is to proactively manage water systems to minimize the risk of outbreaks, ensuring the health and safety of individuals who may be exposed to water systems where Legionella could proliferate.

While maximizing water usage efficiency, improving water quality for aesthetic purposes, and lowering operational costs may be important considerations in overall water management, these factors do not directly address the critical public health concern posed by Legionella bacteria. Hence, they are not the primary focus of a Legionella water management plan.