Vic: Legionella cooling towers removed from Aquarium

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2000
Vic: Legionella cooling towers removed from Aquarium

MELBOURNE, Aug 12 AAP - Airconditioning cooling towers blamed for Victoria's largest
legionnaires' disease outbreak are being removed from the Melbourne Aquarium.

Two people died and more than 100 were infected with the disease after the aquarium's
water-based towers were infected with the bacteria in April.

Air-based cooling units imported from Europe are being installed, replacing a temporary
air-based system which was connected in May.

Aquarium General Manager, Tom Smith, said a water-based cooling system would never
be used at the Aquarium again.

"In March we abided by all legal requirements on managing water-based systems, but
it still wasn't enough to protect our visitors," he told ABC radio.

"By installing the new system, Melbourne Aquarium exceeds the requirements set by new
Government legislation to protect the public."

"We would encourage all public facilities to adopt air-cooled systems."

AAP ag/cjh/

KEYWORD: LEGIONELLA TOWERS

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