What is New Jersey Senate Bill 2188

On September 12, 2024, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed NJ Senate Bill 2188 into law. This bill introduces strict regulations to prevent and control Legionnaires’ disease. Facilities and public water systems in New Jersey must adhere to a new set of water management and testing protocols to ensure public safety.

Building Types and Water Sytems Impacted by NJ Bill 2188?

Facilities like healthcare institutions, high-rise buildings, and others with centralized water systems or water-releasing devices (e.g., cooling towers, pools, fountains) must implement water management programs to prevent Legionella bacteria growth, following standards such as ASHRAE 188-2018.

Public community water systems that serve 100 or more connections and are supplied by surface water, groundwater influenced by surface water, or other public systems designated by the Department of Environmental Protection are also required to meet these standards.

Even buildings not initially required to have a water management program, such as hotels or industrial facilities, may be mandated by health authorities to implement one if they are linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. Failing to comply can be costly, but ensuring compliance can be simplified with proper planning and adherence to established guidelines.

How We Can Help

In the ever-changing environment of water management regulations, it is critical to stay informed on the requirements and guidelines at both the federal and state levels. Nephros compliments your water management plan with a variety of filtration options (including commercial and FDA-cleared infection control filters), water evaluation services, facility audits, and educational resources for programmatic support.

Our S100 point-of-use infection control filters for sinks and showers offer effective protection from waterborne pathogens for 90 days, allowing Facilities/Engineering Teams to implement corrective action plans.

After corrective action, in-line filtration like our DSU-H and SSU-H, can be installed on a variety of equipment as a programmatic approach to water safety.

New Jersey is one of many states that have implemented requirements and regulations surrounding water management. Understanding what regulations have been implemented or are soon to be implemented on both a state and federal level is key to keeping your facility in compliance and your occupants safe from harm.