Published on August 07, 2026
The Allegheny County Jail provided the following update on the possible legionella presence at the facility.
Jail administration’s primary concern is the health and safety of all the staff and incarcerated population. There have been no confirmed cases of legionella-related illnesses among staff or the incarcerated population. Additional testing of two officer bathrooms confirmed the presence of legionella bacteria in those fixtures. Those bathrooms have been closed since the initial test results were received in July and will remain closed until remediation efforts are complete.
The jail is working with a vendor that is an expert in water testing and remediation, the Allegheny County Facilities Department, and the Allegheny County Health Department to establish comprehensive remediation protocols. The jail will also establish a multidisciplinary water management program comprised of members from the public health, operations, maintenance and administration teams. This group will ensure ongoing cleaning, testing, monitoring and remediation takes place.
Routine testing, like the type done at the Allegheny County Jail, helps inform and control potential spread before it becomes a public health concern.
You can learn more about legionellosis from the Allegheny County Health Department.
Media inquiries may be directed to Jesse Geleynse, Public Information Officer for the Allegheny County Jail jesse.geleynse@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-350-1267 or 412-760-4790 (cell).