Residents of an assisted living facility in downtown Vancouver have spent more than a month without access to safe tap water as crews continue testing the building’s water system for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, according to reporting by The Columbian.

The restrictions, in place since December, bar residents from drinking or bathing with tap water. Bottled water continues to be distributed, and staff are reportedly providing alternative hygiene options while awaiting further lab results due later this week.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. The illness cannot be spread from person to person and often arises in complex plumbing systems where water stagnates or fails to maintain adequate disinfection levels. Older adults and those with chronic health conditions are at heightened risk of infection, making the water safety issue especially serious for assisted living facilities.

The affected building is located in Vancouver’s downtown core, though local health officials have stressed that no confirmed Legionnaires’ cases have been linked to the site as of early February. Testing is ongoing under guidance from Clark County Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health.

Regional health authorities have periodically issued similar advisories in past years when Legionella bacteria was detected in hospital or senior housing plumbing systems, underscoring long-standing concerns about water maintenance in large facilities serving vulnerable populations.

Why this matters for Cowlitz County: The extended restrictions in Vancouver highlight the importance of proactive water system monitoring in care homes across Southwest Washington—including those in Longview and Kelso. Aging infrastructure and complex plumbing can elevate Legionnaires’ risk anywhere water systems are not regularly flushed or disinfected. Local operators may wish to review their prevention protocols as a precaution.