Half of public pools contain E. coli
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found more than half of public pools are contaminated.
The study was done on public pools only, excluding private pools, water parks and athletic clubs.
It found 58 percent tested positive for E. coli, which is a bacteria normally found in the human gut and feces.
The contamination comes from swimmers going to the bathroom in the pool or entering the water without showering first.
Warm summer temperatures mean cooling off in the swimming pool. But before you hit the water, you need to hit the showers. More than half of public pools in the U.S tested positive for fecal bacteria.
Locally there are 11 public pools. They’re maintained every day by the facility and every year they get inspected by Eastern Idaho Public Health.
“We’re looking for water safety, swimmer safety in terms of slipping hazards and general cleanliness of the facility,” said Kellye Eager, director of the Environmental Health Department.
Eager says swimmers play a big part in keeping pools clean. The “Six Pleas” are common sense rules for healthy swimming.
The biggest plea from the CDC: Don’t go swimming if you have diarrhea. Other tips include doing your best not to swallow pool water, practicing good hygiene, taking frequent bathroom breaks, changing diapers away from the pool and, most importantly, taking a thorough shower with soap before jumping in public pools.
Eastern Idaho Public Health doesn’t inspect private pools. Maintenance workers say swimmers at hotels or apartment complexes should follow the same CDC suggestions.
Parkwood Pointe Apartments Maintenance Supervisor Parker Wadsworth checks the pool twice a day by measuring chlorine and pH levels. He also uses a water vacuum to clean debris from the bottom of the pool.
If chemical water levels were not maintained, “It would start looking murky and brownish and wouldn’t be very appealing to the residents,” said Wadsworth.
A team effort by public health, maintenance workers and swimmers keep eastern Idaho pools a fun, germ free summer activity.
Sunscreens and lotions can also change the chemical levels in swimming pools.
