poop in the pool archived

These are the questions that keep us awake at 4 am.:wink:

I remember this happening a few times in the Maplewood training pool. They would close it for at least an hour and added extra chemicals to kill whatever bacteria might have been released. I'm sure there is a state protocol and would ask management if they know it & follow it.

Where is the Lifetime pool?

It is really gross if you think about it........I try not to. Pooped in pools generally stay empty for a little while after reopening and then unsuspecting new arrivals get there and fill up the pools again. My teen grosses out thinking about all that is in the waters.....

lmbo @ jb......

Corey

kibbe - the Lifetime Pool is at Lifetime Fitness...they have locations in Florham Park and Berkeley Heights...

I’m on the Condo board that operates a pool. If a child poops or vomits in the pool the State of NJ makes us close the pool for a minimum of 24 hours, plus add chemicals and take certain tests. I do not think it was legal to open the pool an hour later.

7) In the event of fecal contamination, the following procedures should be performed:

a. All pool users should be instructed to exit the pool, and the pool should be closed.

b. As much fecal material as possible should be removed from the pool. If the pool is vacuumed, waste should be directed to a sanitary sewer or other approved waste disposal system and not through the filtration system. The vacuum equipment should be cleaned and disinfected before reuse.

c. The free chlorine residual should be raised to 20.0 mg/L, and the pH adjusted to between 7.2 and 7.5. This chlorine level should be maintained for at least nine hours. This is equivalent to an approximate CT value of 10,000. A higher or lower chlorine residual can be used, provided a CT value of 10,000 is achieved.

d. The filtration system should be operated for a minimum of three to four turnovers. At public swimming pools, the turnover rate, or the amount of time it takes to filter all of the water in the pool, is usually six to eight hours; therefore, three turnovers can be achieved within 24 hours. In general, filters are more effective when they are slightly dirty. If the filter is not in need of backwashing at the time of the fecal accident, do not backwash the filter.

e. After three to four turnovers, thoroughly backwash the filter.

f. If the pool is a low volume pool, such as a spa pool or wading pool, drain the pool at this point.

g. Disinfect the filter tank and filter media with a 20:1 solution of sodium hypochlorite (20 parts water to I part 12% sodium hypochlorite).

h. Restart the filtration system. Neutralize any excessively high chlorine residual with sodium thiosulfate. Balance the water if necessary and reopen the pool.

Perhaps the requirements are different at municipal pools, which may have more strict chlorination guidelines and/or more substantial filters? Just a guess.

Presumably these actors are toddlers - NJ regs require they where snug-fitting plastic pants in public pools.

babyruth anybody?

We have to follow the same guidelines as a municipal pool.

Hmm, oh well. I guess Maplewood isn't as careful. Or maybe the toddler and training pools are so small/shallow that they have easier guidelines?

f. If the pool is a low volume pool, such as a spa pool or wading pool, drain the pool at this point.

I'm not pressing here, but they are not following the rules.

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I wondr how many town pools follow these guidelines? Sounds right to me.

corey

Maybe the town health inspector turns a blind eye to town pools.

braniac 5, thank you for you input.

This is the reason why I didn't join the pool...argh to think what else is in there and how many other times it was done in this manner, I can't even imagine it.

It happened at the Maplewood pool about a month ago. The big pool. They only closed it long enough to scoop out. And even then, they allowed people to remain in the deep end. I wouldn't let my children get back in. I wasn't sure of the rules, but in retrospect, wish I had reported it. I knew it didn't seem right.

Posted By: bmalibashksaI’m on the Condo board that operates a pool. If a child poops or vomits in the pool the State of NJ makes us close the pool for a minimum of 24 hours, plus add chemicals and take certain tests. I do not think it was legal to open the pool an hour later.

This is exactly what the Millburn pool does. They "shock" the pool with some super-strong chemicals and close it for 24 hours. It's a pain in the neck, but a necessary one.

Heathbar

Did this occur yesterday at Lifetime? I am a member there as well and like to use the outdoor lap pool, I was in the middle of my workout on Tuesday and needed to get out of the pool because there was poop in the pool. I have had an issue with this all summer and have complained several times to the pool director who tells me that they have a policy in which the children must wear swim diapers and if they are under the age of 1 they must wear plastic pants over the swim diaper. Obviously this is not working! He also claims that the filters are able to recycle the pool water within 20 minutes therefore the pool only needs to be closed for a short amount of time. In my opinion the pool needs to be closed for 24 hours to truly be clean! Also maybe if they closed the pool for more then 20 minutes the parents who are not following the rules will be inconvenienced and will get the message!

Heathbar if you are a member I suggest that you express your concerns with the pool manager and on the Lifetime Fitness message board there is already a thread started about this issue.

I wonder how often this happens and no one's aware of it -- especially if the volume of the contaminant (poop) is small.

Ewww...this thread is making me feel better about not belonging to a pool this summer! My backyard sprinkler seems so amazing right now!

This happened at the Maplewood pool A MONTH AGO!!!..and in the BIG POOL?!! WHAT?!! Well, that's another another great reason we did the August only membership this year...:bigsmile:

..and the OP is HeathBar?? :rolling:

Posted By: n66I wonder how often this happens and no one's aware of it -- especially if the volume of the contaminant (poop) is small.

Often from what I read.

It was a pool "survey" that found over 90% were contaminated. But they didn't really get into specifics, such as the amount of contamination. Probably due to some who don't wipe well or have leakage problems.

With so many using pools it would be a surprise if there were no issues. I'm sure there's always some poorly brought up pig who passes urine - and we'll never know.

That's why we have chlorine in pools.

It's public bathing. Case closed.

By the way, it's young children and immune-compromised individuals who are at risk. Most healthy adults (or older children) would be fine unless they ingested large amounts of contaminants.

That's why I hate when parents take young children into the big pool and they are not wearing swim diapers.

I think swim diapers are not a solution...urine psses through them and poop makes it out obviously. The best they can do is contain large pieces of poop, by the time the poop is recognized by the parents some of it has seeped out of the swimmie. this is grossing me out...............

Corey

When my children were little we were members of the Maplewood pool. One year, towards the end of the summer I got sick. I was sick for three weeks with a low grade fever, aching and stomach pains. When I finally went to the doctor I was diagnosed with a virus and the doctor traced it back to fecal matter. This surprised me as I had no children in diapers and I consider myself hygienic (wash hands ALWAYS). He told me he has seen this virus in people that are members of municipal pools. It so grossed me out that we rarely went to the pool afterwards and when we did I made my kids shower as soon as they got home. I think my kids are scarred for life as they all hate municipal pools, hot tubs, hotel pools, etc.

Lesson - wash hands and face with antibiotic soap after swimming and shower immediately after when you are finished swimming for the day.

Never before have I been so happy not to have a pool membership. :rolling: