April McIver of Plumbing Foundation calls for holistic water system testing

Thank you.

Good morning.

I'm April McIver, Executive Director of the Plumbing Foundation, a nonprofit trade association representing the New York City licensed plumbing industry.

Our mission is to ensure the passage and enforcement of safe plumbing codes.

First, I give my condolences to the families of the 11 who have lost their lives this summer from the recent outbreak.

We are here today to demand a shift from reacting to Legionnaire's disease to proactively preventing it.

While the city has hyper-focused on cooling towers since 2015, recent deadly outbreaks, including the 7 in Harlem last year and the 11 on the Upper East Side this year, prove this approach is severely inadequate.

The bacteria is actively spreading through internal building water systems.

Speaker Menon mentioned the Haven Plaza today, and Councilmember Farias spoke about Parkchester.

We want to look at this holistically, comprehensively.

So potable water systems where New Yorkers shower, wash their hands, brush their teeth are a frequent source of Legionella exposure.

Furthermore, well-intentioned green building laws that lower hot water temperatures, promote low flow fixtures, and most recently, encourage the use of plastic piping and the mayor's block-by-block housing plan as an alternative

material, create the perfect breeding grounds for this deadly bacteria.

Our written testimony has comments on most of the legislation on the agenda.

today, which we explain as supporting, but with amendments to each of the bills.

I do want to bring us to our primary focus today, reintroduction of Intro 434 of 2024.

We urgently call on the Council to reintroduce this bill with critical provisions restored as provided to the Council.

We must mandate proactive maintenance and testing for entire building water systems.

A truly comprehensive bill will require clear, strict standards and direct the Department of Health, as we know they are struggling with enforcement.

A reintroduction of 434.

Okay.

Thank you.

Finish.

Go ahead.

It's okay.

It's much longer.

I just very quickly like to say, you know, I have been working at this organization for nine years, working on this issue for seven years.

I have met so many, so many experts and people.

I'm an attorney, but I've spoken to so many people.

I read a lot.

I do a lot of research.

And I think New York City is really focusing this in a bubble in the cooling towers.

And I think we really do need to expand this and look at this holistically.

Okay.

More in my testimony.

Thank you.

Thank you.