Clear
and Clean

Healthywaterqualityincommunitypoolsrequirescarefulvigilance.

As clearandrefreshingasswimmingpoolwater looks,particularlyonaswelteringhotday,itcanharborbacteria,virusesandpara-­sitesthatcancausewhatthe Center for Disease Control (CDC) callrecreational waterillnesses.Instancesoftheseailments,whichincludeear andeyeinfectionsand respiratory,intestinalandskin diseases,aredramaticallyontheriseaccordingtotheCDC;reportedcaseshavemorethantripledinthepast20years.

Evenif thecommunityyou managehasoneswimmingpoolorseveral,
indoorsorout,saltwaterorfresh,Olympicsizeorawadingpool-evenhot  tubs-it’simportant
 thatthewaterin whichresidentsswimandrelaxwon’tmakethemsick.Andcommunitymanagersandpoolmaintenancestaff,aswellas municipal and localgovernments,candoalottominimizeoutbreaksofinfections.

Pool Rules are Essential

Whether acommunity’spoolsaremaintainedandstaffedbytheassociationoracontractor,managersshouldworkcloselywithpoolpersonneltomakesure every onewhousesthepoolobservescertainprocedures.

It’sessentialthatdressingrooms, bathrooms,showersandpooldecksare cleanedanddisinfectedregularly.Pool usersshouldbeeducatedaboutwhy hygieneisacriticalelementinmaintaininghealthypoolwaterandwhydiapered childrenshouldbechangedwellaway fromthepoolandthesurroundingdecks. Allswimmersshouldbeencouraged to take  frequentbathroombreaksand remindednottoswallowpoolwater. Andurgeswimmerstoshowerwithsoap each time they enter or leave the
pool. Anyone – residents, guests, children, adults and employees – who has an
infection or illness should be refused entry to the swimming or wading pool
area. Also develop a disinfecting policy for responding to contamination.

Monitor Chemicals Closely

It’simportanttocheckwaterpHandchlorinelevelsregularly,particularlyduringtheweekendorotherbusytimes.  Also,managersandpoolstaffshouldbeawarethatwhilechlorineisaneffectivedisinfectant,itdoesn’tkillgerms immediately,andsomeviralandbacterialstrainsresistchlorinealtogether. Forinstance,E.colibacteriacan beeliminatedinlessthanaminutebynormaldisinfectants,butGiardia,which is a parasite, requires nearly an hour. The virus that  causesHepatitisAsurvivesinchlorineforonlyabout15minutes,buttheparasiteCryptosporidiumcanliveinchlorinatedwaterformore thanaweekbeforeit’sdestroyed.Anyofthese organismscancausemildtosevere fatigue,stomachcramps,vomitinganddiarrhea.Strepandotherbacteriathatcausecoldsandcarinfectionsalsocanspreadfreelyinswimmingpools. 

Thechemicalsusedtosanitizepool waterarethemselvestoxicifused,storedorappliedimproperly,somakesure they are always handled byproperlytrainedpersonnel.Theassociationalsoshouldkeep recordsofpoolmaintenance, disinfectant useandpHmeasurements.

Get More Information

TheCDCreleasedthe Model AquaticHealthCode(MAHC) in September 2014 as guidance for local governments, pool programs and others who have vested interest in “improving the health and safety at public aquatic facilities.” This code is available on the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/mahc/about.html. 

Acompletechecklistofcriticalstepstotaketoensurepoolwatersafetyisavailableatwww.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/resources/operating-public–swimming-pools-factshcet.html. 

Swimmingpoolsareagreatsourceofrecreation,  exercise
 and
 relaxation-andmanagersshoulddoeverythingpossible toensuretheywon’tmakeswimmerssick.