489 Copper-Silver Ionization Technology and Legionella Control with Tory Schira
Release Date: 08/14/2026
489 Copper-Silver Ionization Technology and Legionella Control with Tory Schira
Scaling UP! H2O
Copper-silver ionization offers building operators a persistent approach to Legionella control—one designed to carry an active disinfectant residual throughout complex plumbing infrastructure. LiquiTech CEO Tory Schira explains how the technology works, what operating data matters, and why successful implementation requires more than installing equipment. How Copper-Silver Ionization Works Copper and silver ions are introduced through a flow chamber containing sacrificial electrodes. A controlled electrical charge releases the positively...
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Copper-silver ionization offers building operators a persistent approach to Legionella control—one designed to carry an active disinfectant residual throughout complex plumbing infrastructure. LiquiTech CEO Tory Schira explains how the technology works, what operating data matters, and why successful implementation requires more than installing equipment.
How Copper-Silver Ionization Works
Copper and silver ions are introduced through a flow chamber containing sacrificial electrodes. A controlled electrical charge releases the positively charged ions into the water, allowing them to travel through the plumbing system and reach areas where biofilm and Legionella may grow.
Tory describes the ions as independently biocidal but more effective when working together. Copper weakens the bacterial cell wall, while silver gains greater access to the cell and disrupts the bacteria. Unlike traditional oxidants that can decay with time and temperature, copper and silver ions remain persistent across hot and cold building water systems.
Designing, Monitoring, and Controlling the System
Proper design begins with engineering data. The deployment team evaluates whether treatment should be installed on the hot-water recirculation loop or at the building’s cold-water point of entry. Peak demand, water consumption, conductivity, and pH also influence system sizing and operation.
Tory outlines target ranges of 0.1–0.8 ppm copper and approximately 30–80 ppb silver. Real-time monitoring tracks ion introduction, while samples collected from distal locations help verify distribution. Those samples are analyzed by an independent laboratory using ICP-MS testing under EPA Method 200.8.
Water Management Plans Must Match the Control Method
Changing a building’s disinfection method should trigger a review of its water management plan. Tory cautions that many plans remain too generic and fail to define method-specific target ranges, corrective actions, and root-cause analysis procedures.
The conversation also examines lessons from pandemic-era building stagnation. LiquiTech used connected-system data to identify low-flow areas and guide more targeted flushing, demonstrating how water-use visibility can strengthen operational decisions.
Persistent Legionella positivity should not automatically be accepted as control. Water professionals must define success clearly, verify distribution, and align technology, monitoring, and corrective actions with the desired water-safety outcome.
Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
02:30 — Trace Blackmore opens the second week of Legionella Awareness Month and explains why copper-silver ionization must operate within a broader water management plan.
04:20 — Trace highlights the Legionella Resources page, including materials from the CDC, World Health Organization, and previous podcast guests.
07:30 — Trace explains how episode discussion guides help teams turn podcast insights into practical workplace conversations and action items.
09:00 — Words of Water with James
10:50 — Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals include the WaterPro Conference, the ASPE Convention and Expo, and Industrial Water Week.
13:30 — Trace begins his interview with Tory Schira, CEO of LiquiTech, about copper-silver ionization technology and Legionella control.
14:20 — Tory traces LiquiTech’s history and explains how copper-silver ionization was adapted for building water systems.
15:10 — Tory explains why the persistence of copper and silver ions supports their distribution through complex plumbing systems.
16:00 — A flow chamber containing sacrificial electrodes releases copper and silver ions into the water to provide systemic disinfection.
17:20 — System design begins by choosing between hot-water recirculation treatment and cold-water point-of-entry treatment.
18:10 — Tory describes how positively charged copper and silver ions work together against bacterial cells.
19:30 — Tory explains LiquiTech’s focus on using copper-silver ionization to control Legionella in potable water systems.
21:30 — Real-time monitoring and distal-site sampling help verify ion output and distribution throughout a building.
22:30 — Tory identifies the target copper and silver concentrations used to guide system performance.
24:10 — Copper-silver ionization is compared with oxidizing disinfectants that can decay over time and at elevated temperatures.
26:10 — Tory discusses deployment data from Legionella-positive environments, including facilities that previously tried other control methods.
28:40 — Changing a disinfection method should trigger a refresh of the facility’s water management plan.
30:20 — Tory explains why generic water management plans may lack the treatment-specific corrective actions needed for stronger performance.
31:10 — Pandemic-era data revealed building stagnation patterns and helped teams identify locations that needed targeted flushing.
33:00 — Future monitoring capabilities may improve visibility into water age, stagnation, temperature, sediment, and other Legionella risk factors.
34:10 — Tory challenges water professionals to define what successful Legionella control means rather than accepting persistent positivity.
35:20 — Compact, custom-designed systems may provide an option for facilities with limited mechanical-room space.
36:00 — Tory shares partnership opportunities for water treatment companies that value integrity and higher performance standards.
37:40 — Trace summarizes the interview’s central lessons: persistence matters, every building is different, and proper system design is essential.
38:50 — Trace reminds listeners to consult their water management plan and program team before adding or modifying a disinfection technology.
Connect with Tory Schira
Phone: 630-693-0500
Email: tory@liquitech.com
Website: https://liquitech.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-schira-9530a19/
Guest Resources Mentioned
LiquiTech — Copper-silver ionization and building water safety solutions
LiquiTech Copper-Silver Ionization System — Technology for controlling Legionella in building water systems
EPA Method 200.8 — Determination of trace elements in water using ICP-MS
EPA Lead and Copper Rule — Official information concerning the 1.3 mg/L copper action level
EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations — Federal drinking-water standards and treatment requirements
NASA: Water Treatment Systems Make a Big Splash — Background on Apollo-era copper and silver ionization technology
NASA: Nine Ways NASA Is Solving Water Problems Around the Globe — Overview of NASA’s early use of silver-ion water purification
NASA: Water Management System and an Electrolytic Cell — Historical technical document about silver-ion water sterilization
The following studies support the technical discussion but were not identified by title during the episode.
Experiences of the First 16 Hospitals Using Copper-Silver Ionization for Legionella Control
Intermittent Use of Copper-Silver Ionization for Legionella Control
Controlling Legionella in Hospital Drinking Water: An Evidence-Based Review of Disinfection Methods
Disinfection of Water Distribution Systems for Legionella
Controlling Legionella Using Copper-Silver Ionization
Maintaining Legionella Control in Building Water Systems
Controlling Legionella pneumophila at Reduced Hot-Water Temperatures
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Water You Know with James McDonald
Today's definition is the flaky oxide layer that forms on the surfaces of iron and steel when they are heated and cooled during hot fabrication. Do you know the word or phrase?
2026 Events for Water Professionals
Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.
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