Legionella in the Office

There was fear among state employees in November after health-harming Legionella bacteria was found in their aging office buildings in Baltimore. Even more concerning was information exclusively reported by The Brew: the “lack of potable water” had been casually discussed for years and acknowledged specifically by an agency official in an email to staff January 25, 2024, eight months earlier. As we reported, employees had tried, without success, to get answers to reasonable questions: “Why the water was not potable. What was in it. Why we suddenly had these filters. How long there had been these problems with the water.”

Dec 5, 20240

New testing finds Legionella at two District Court buildings as well as all of State Center

Workers are still being told to come to work, but not to drink the water. Bacteria findings may spread beyond Baltimore as officials now plan to test state office buildings across Maryland.

Dec 3, 20240

State Center buildings to close again amid continued Legionella findings and employee complaints

Maryland officials decree more cleaning and teleworking as union members decry unsafe conditions. A BREW EXCLUSIVE.

Nov 27, 20240

Legionella bacteria is still present at State Center, new testing shows

Told to come back to the office – but advised not to drink the building’s water – employees remain concerned about their health.

Nov 13, 20240

Months before Legionella finding at State Center, officials had acknowledged a lack of potable water

The health-harming bacteria was detected in the drinking water at two State Center buildings, according to a memo obtained by The Brew. Employees were advised to work from home out of an abundance of caution.