435 Optimizing Legionella Control Strategies with Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica

Legionella remains one of the most complex challenges for water professionals worldwide. How do we balance effective monitoring with realistic costs—and which strategies deliver true public health impact? In this episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica,  Head Public Health University of Rome "Foro Italico to explore new insights from his comparative research on Legionella control.

Reframing Legionella Risk 

Dr. Spica explains why public health data increasingly points to Legionella pneumophila—not all Legionella species—as the primary concern for human health. He shares how pan-European data modeling and peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that broad-spectrum monitoring may overburden systems without delivering proportional safety gains. 

Cost-Benefit Models and Sustainability 

Water professionals know that testing and compliance require resources. Dr. Spica discusses cost-benefit analysis frameworks that help decision-makers evaluate where investments deliver the greatest reduction in risk. He also highlights the sustainability implications of over-testing, from lab resources to environmental waste streams. 

European Regulations and Legal Liability 

The conversation also explores the European Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, national approaches to Legionella, and how liability shifts when contamination is detected. Dr. Spica’s insights illuminate what building owners, operators, and regulators must weigh as they update management plans. 

Conclusion 

For engineers, operators, and technical managers, this episode provides a clear framework for thinking about Legionella beyond routine testing. It’s about focusing on the pathogen that truly drives disease outcomes, aligning regulatory strategy with science, and applying resources where they matter most. 

Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! 

 

Timestamps   

02:24 - Trace opens the episode, welcoming listeners to Legionella Awareness Month and framing the call to action 

05:37 - Water You Know with James McDonald 

10:04 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professio