The Howard County Health Department has lifted a more than two-week water restriction at the Lutheran Village at Miller's Grant, a new Ellicott City retirement community where three residents had been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, a severe type of pneumonia.

Miller's Grant management treated its water sources after the health officials found harmful levels of the Legionnaires' bacteria in the retirement community's water, said Lisa de Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the county's health department. Despite testing numerous water sources in the community, health officials did not identify the source of the disease, but said the three residents diagnosed with the disease likely contracted it at the retirement community.

“The remediation treatment returned the water to levels sufficient to meet water safety standards consistent as set for … by state and local regulations. Essentially the water is now deemed not harmful for drinking, bathing, cooking or any other use,” said de Hernandez.

A case of the disease in late May prompted Miller's Grant management to shut off water as state and local officials tested the water sources for traces of the disease.

Out of what de Hernandez called “an overabundance of caution,” the health department has recommended testing of the water sources every two weeks for the next three months. If the results remain the same, health officials will stop testing, de Hernandez said.

The disease is caused by breathing in small drops of water that contain the bacteria legionella, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Water restrictions prompted Miller's Grant residents to use bottled water for cooking and cleaning and avoid using showers and sinks in bathrooms and kitchens for several days. The process of making sure the water system was free of the bacteria “was time-consuming and inconvenient, but necessary to ensure the health and safety of all residents and staff,” said Lisa Albin, director of church and public relations at the Lutheran Village.

The incident has prompted Miller's Grant management to install an additional water treatment system and evaluate its systems in order to continue to monitor the situation, according to Albin.

De Hernandez said Miller's Grant was “extremely cooperative throughout the process and advocated for the residents.”

Students win honors at business competitions

Two Howard County students won honors at a national leadership conference held in Atlanta this month.

Megha Sharma,of Long Reach High took second place in a sales presentation competition, and Gabrielle Haussmann of Atholton High took ninth place in a client service competition at the 2016 National Leadership Conference.

Both Howard County students were members of a delegation from Maryland's chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, a national nonprofit that brings business and education together to develop leadership and career development programs.

—?Lisa Philip, Baltimore Sun Media Group

Film ‘Feastival' kicks off Summer Restaurant Weeks

Howard County's tourism office will kick off Summer Restaurant Weeks with the seventh annual Howard County Film Feastival on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Clark's Elioak Farm.

Although there no cost to attend the event, guests may donate to the Days of Taste program that focuses on teaching children about cooking and nutrition. Registration is limited and required at hocofilmfeastival.eventbrite.com.

Summer Restaurant Weeks runs from Monday through Aug. 1, with an emphasis on locally grown produce and foods. The film “Just Eat It” will be featured this year, focusing on food waste and rescue.

According to director of marketing Sarah Kurtanich, 22 restaurants are participating in Restaurant Weeks. For details, go to HowardCountyRestaurantWeek.com.

—?Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group

Three-way stop at Gorman and Leishear intersection

Howard County Department of Public Works will turn the intersection of Gorman and Leishear roads into a three-way traffic stop beginning Monday.

Located in Columbia's Village of Kings Contrivance, the intersection will have stop signs for both directions on Gorman Road. County officials said the project will be similar to the three-way stop that was installed on Gorman Road at Murray Hill Road in 2013.

Signs are posted to inform drivers.

For more details, contact Lisa Brightwell at 410-313-3440 or publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.

—?Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group