Pa. House Consumer Protection Committee receives testimony on safe water systems for Pennsylvanians
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus July 21, 2026 | 10:37 AM
PHILADELPHIA, July 21 – On Monday, the PA House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee held a public hearing examining the management of public water systems and prevention of waterborne illness, like Legionnaires’ disease.
Rep. Danilo Burgos, D-Phila., chairman of the committee, called the hearing to collect the expertise of leaders in the health and science behind epidemiology, public water systems, and prevention of disease to ensure the safety of Pennsylvanians.
“We’re taking a closer look at regulated water systems and the factors that can contribute to Legionnaires’ disease,” said Burgos. “While our water systems generally meet established standards, recent incidents have highlighted areas where aging infrastructure, warm-weather conditions, and complex plumbing systems can elevate risk. Our goal with this hearing was to understand how monitoring, treatment practices, and interagency coordination are working, and where there may be gaps. We’re not here to presume problems, but to ensure we have a clear picture of current practices and potential improvements.”
Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-el, D-Lancaster, participated in the hearing as the prime sponsor of H.B. 2085 which would require government agencies, public water systems, and certain building owners to maintain minimum standards to better prevent, detect, and control cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
“I worry about the impact of Legionnaires’ particularly on large institutional facilities, like the Lancaster County Prison where we’ve had recent cases identified,” said Smith-Wade-el. “Those spaces and populations tend to go under the radar when we talk about public health. I want to know more about why Pennsylvania has double the national rate of Legionnaires’ cases. It remains important to me to get this right. I want to prioritize vulnerable populations in this work no matter where they are, so I really value the input that we gathered.”
As a historical note, the outbreak which lead to the discovery of Legionnaires’ disease occurred 50 years ago just a few blocks from Philadelphia City Hall during an American Legion convention at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, sickening a total of 182 Legionnaires and hotel staff, 29 of whom died due to the disease.
Environmental Microbiologist Dr. Jennifer Clancy of J. Clancy & Associates, LLC, spoke on her 46 years of experience in working with Legionnaires’ cases showing that preventing waterborne disease is a shared responsibility between water utilities and their customers.
“The issue is complex because legionella is found in drinking water, and it’s easy to say let’s focus on drinking water quality to solve the problem,” Clancy said. “However, increased regulation of drinking water will not reduce Legionnaires’ disease cases. The weak link in the chain from source to tap is after the water leaves the municipal supply and enters into buildings. The focus needs to be on these building water systems. Control of legionella needs to happen at that last leg of the chain at the point of use. The focus of any legislation to protect public health needs to be directed to water management planning.”
Bill McQuade, Global VP and Head of Government Affairs and Sustainability, Baltimore AirCoil Company, spoke in favor of the approach in H.B. 2085 and the urgent need to strengthen the state’s approach to preventing Legionnaires’ disease with a thoughtful, science-based, and proactive step forward.
“Prevention cannot be limited to after an outbreak,” McQuade said. “The precautionary principle is relevant here. When a preventable harm is serious and practical reduction risk steps are available, we should not wait for perfect certainty or a crisis before acting. Pennsylvania has a unique place in the history of this disease. It should also have a leadership role in preventing it.”
Burgos said that the committee would consider the significant amount of testimony received at the hearing in progressing the bill through the legislative process.