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Dear YWCA Community,
We’re pleased to update you on the progress of the Legionella mitigation process at YWCA Evanston/North’s (E/NS) campus at 1215 Church Street. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Environmental Health team has confirmed that all necessary control measures are in place for safe reopening, and the building will officially reopen to the public, and in-person programming will resume starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 17. 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.
YWCA E/NS RETURN TO IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING
Below are updates regarding our return to in-person programming. We will also follow up with program participants directly to ensure they have this information, and whom to contact should they have any questions:
- Programs resuming onsite starting Thursday, October 17, 2024:
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All aquatics programs - regularly scheduled programming, including classes, lessons, and swim team practices will resume, starting with a 6:00 am class on 10/17.
- Illinois Domestic Violence 40-Hour Certificate Training
- Youth Leadership Program
- Community Counseling
- The following programs are currently paused and will resume onsite starting Monday, October 21, 2024:
- YW Culinary
- Financial Empowerment Center
MITIGATION CONTROL MEASURES IN PLACE:
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Filters Installed: All facility faucets and showers now have .2-micron filters installed. These filters have a 99.99999% bacteria kill rate and are recommended by the CDC.
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Increased chlorine level: YWCA E/NS typically maintains a chlorine level of 2 ppm (parts per million) in our two pools. As an extra precautionary measure—despite no Legionella bacteria being detected in our pool water—we have temporarily increased the chlorine levels to a range between 3.0-3.33 ppm through our automated chemical distribution system to enhance water purification. This elevated level will be maintained for the next three months.
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Hot Water System Temperature: YWCA E/NS’s hot water system temperature has been returned to the standard operation temperature of 140°F (60°C) to inhibit Legionella growth. Adjustments have also been made to our master mixing valves with our contracted plumber to ensure an increased return temperature of 128°F as an additional precautionary measure.
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Consultation Underway: We can move forward with developing a customized water treatment solution and preventative maintenance management plan with a water treatment consultant now that growth of Legionella bacteria in culture has been observed by the IDPH lab (versus the just genetic material from the bacteria being detected in the first round of test results).
USE OF WATER FIXTURES AT YWCA E/NS:
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Sinks and showers: Now that the .2-micron filters have been installed, it is safe to use sinks and showers.
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Toilets: Toilets are safe to use as the toilets are only supplied by cold water and there were no detections associated with the cold-water system.
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Water Fountains are temporarily closed: Although the water fountains are only supplied by cold water, we have temporarily restricted access as a precautionary measure. Once we get confirmation from our water management consultant that they are safe to use or any necessary steps to ensure their safety are in place, we will reopen them. In the meantime, multiple water coolers are available for public use in the lobby and kitchen areas.
REMINDERS ABOUT INFORMATION SHARED REGARDING TEMPORARY CLOSURE AND LEGIONELLA MITIGATION
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Background and Resources: All background information regarding our temporary closure, updates in our mitigation process, and resources, including the CDC Legionella website and fact sheet, can be found on our website at https://bit.ly/ywensmitigation.
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Health Concerns: If you or someone in your household were recently diagnosed with pneumonia or experienced pneumonia-like symptoms and you were at YWCA Evanston/North Shore within the two weeks before your symptoms started, we encourage you to contact the City of Evanston’s Health and Human Services Department at health@cityofevanston.org or 847-448-4311 for guidance. Steps involved may include a brief interview over the phone to gather additional information, and a recommendation to seek a urine antigen test provided by a physician which can detect Legionella in some cases for days or weeks after treatment for pneumonia.
NEXT STEPS
We understand that this situation can be concerning, and we are committed to providing as much support and reassurance as possible. We will continue to follow all the protocols and steps advised by IDPH, Evanston Health and Human Services (EHHS), and water management experts to ensure the ongoing safety of our facilities. We will keep you informed and updated throughout our remediation efforts via email and on our website at https://bit.ly/ywensmitigation, as transparency and trust are paramount during this time.
We deeply appreciate the community’s support and understanding throughout this process. Our values of transparency, collaboration, curiosity, belonging, and justice are at the heart of everything we do, and they have only grown stronger as we navigate this challenge together. Providing a safe space for our community to connect, heal, and grow is central to our mission, and we are thankful and excited to welcome everyone back.
Warm regards,
YWCA Evanston/North Shore
For general questions or concerns, please contact us at info@ywca-ens.org or call (847) 864-8445. Responses to emails and voicemails left on our mainline number will be responded to in as timely a manner as possible.
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