Evanston YWCA reopens after Legionnaires' scare
The YWCA Evanston/North campus reopened Thursday after safety measures were put in place to eliminate Legionella bacteria from its hot water supply.
The YWCA shut down the facility at 1215 Church St. on Oct. 10 "out of an abundance of caution" after the Illinois Department of Public Health connected two cases of Legionnaires’ disease to the building.
The health department had tested the facility's water and detected Legionella bacteria in the hot water supply that feeds the building's sinks, showers and water fountains, the nonprofit said in a statement.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious respiratory infection caused by bacteria that grows in water. The most common way for someone to get sick is by breathing in mist containing Legionella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The YWCA said it reopened the campus to the public after following cleanup guidelines from the state's health department. Those measures include new water filters, increased chlorine levels and hot water temperatures.
"The health and safety of everyone in our community is our top priority, and we can assure you that we have followed all recommended guidelines and precautions to ensure a safe return to our facilities," the YWCA said in a statement.
The YWCA said the building's water fountains will continue to be shut off as a precaution until they get the OK from its new water management consultant.
The nonprofit said all programs were resuming Thursday except for its culinary program and financial empowerment center, which are set to resume Monday.