Bill > S08472

This bill requires the owners or operators of cooling towers, which are structures used for cooling water in buildings, to submit a certification twice a year, in January and July, instead of annually, confirming that the cooling tower has been inspected, tested, cleaned, and disinfected according to city rules and that a maintenance program is in place. It also shortens the timeframes for owners to clean and disinfect cooling towers after tests reveal microbial levels indicative of a maintenance deficiency or a serious health threat, requiring notification to the department within 24 hours for serious threats. Additionally, the bill extends the record-keeping period for inspections and tests from three to ten years and increases the civil penalties for violations, with fines ranging from $2,500 for a first offense to $7,000 for subsequent offenses, and up to $12,500 if a violation results in a fatality or serious injury.