Melissa Barber of MCA on chemical use and advisory panel

Hi, thank you for the opportunity to testify at this hearing.

Before I begin, I want to extend my sympathy to everyone affected by the recent outbreak.

My name is Melissa Barber, and I'm the Assistant Director for the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York.

Our members install, service, test, repair, and maintain

maintain heating, ventilation, cooling, and air conditioning, refrigeration, and fire sprinkler systems throughout New York City and Long Island, employing Steamfitters Local 638 building trades and metal trades members to perform this work.

Collectively, we have over 250 contractors and 6,000 union members working daily on the central nervous systems of our city's building.

Our mechanical contractors, along with their water treatment subcontractors, are at the forefront of installing, testing, and maintaining new and existing cooling towers.

We offer the following testimony on this oversight hearing and corresponding bills.

The regulations that began to be enforced this past spring were a correct step in addressing recent Legionnaires disease outbreaks.

However, this summer's outbreak shows that current requirements may warrant some further review.

We support the intention of Intro 1006, and we have some minor language changes that we would like to submit for consideration.

However, we also do believe that it's imperative that the city further study and review the volume and type of chemicals introduced into systems, particularly the amount of chlorine and bromine used.

For example, excessive levels of these chemicals could cause...

Piping corrosion and pitting, which are precisely the conditions in which Legionella thrives.

So more is not always better.

We also support Intro 1017, but we would also ask that the council develop an advisory board or panel that's part of this conversation.

Our contractors are installing and servicing these systems day in and day out and can

offer unrivaled field experience and boots on the ground insight.

One unintended consequence of more energy efficient buildings has been reduced water movement in cooling towers and often at lower velocity.

This is a result of energy saving pumping reductions.

Sorry, I'll make it quick.

Less frequent water or lower flow pumping can mean that water can sit longer.

Instead of properly circulating, which encourages biofilm buildup on walls.

So in response, our contractors are already seeing a shift towards cooling tower and pump designs that run pumps faster to reduce stagnation, along with upgrades that reduce aerosolized water.

As we all work to curb Legionnaire's disease outbreaks, discussions on the impact of energy code mandates, system redesigns, new technology, and remediation techniques should occur on a regular basis.

Finally, we urge the Council to ensure that all agencies have sufficient staff to fulfill city mandates.

When agencies face limited workforce resources, communities are left at risk, and New York City must ensure that agencies providing vital public health and safety services can attract and retain staff and the staff levels required to do so.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

Thank you.