Heritage Park Fountain Shutting Down Twice Daily, But Does Anyone Tell Swimmers Not To Poop In The Water?

In an editorial that went along way toward explaining to the public what's really going on at Olympia, Washington's Heritage Park Fountain, the Daily Olympian still fell too short of providing the public with a real education about the dangers of "swimming" in such facilities.

Here's the crux of what the Olympian said:

"No one ever thought that the fountain, made with green granite from New York, would accommodate up to 300 youngsters at a time.

And those youngsters bring an assortment of dirt, grime and other grit with them when they splash in the water.

City workers cannot use chlorine to disinfect the water because it would corrode the brass piping of the fountain. Instead they use bromine, which kills germs and bacteria just like chlorine, but does not harm the piping.

But the quality of water, which recirculates through an underground, 5,000-gallon tank, deteriorates quickly. The sun evaporates the bromine, which is also broken down by sunscreen and carried off on the bodies of the bathers. That’s why the fountain must be shut down during the hottest part of the day to recharge bromine levels.

“Why not shut it down in the middle of the night?” ask critics.

Simple answer. In the middle of the night no one is using the fountain, the sun is not evaporating the bromine and the levels of disinfectant stay constant, actually building as the water recirculates."

Washington's Capitol City newspaper then goes into a lot of history of the 47 nozzle pools with jets shooting 40 into there air.  No where do they provide the information they should have told swimmers and parents of toddlers who do.  From the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention, we will fill in that huge gap:

 Three Steps for All Swimmers

Keep germs from causing recreational water illnesses (RWIs)

  • Please don't swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
  • Please don't swallow the pool water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
  • Please practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.

 Three Steps for Parents of Young Kids

Keep germs out of the pool: 

  • Please take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.
  • Please change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside. Germs can spread in and around the pool.
  • Please wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming. Invisible amounts of fecal matter can end up in the pool.

Next time, Olympian, just tell people not to poop in the fountain nor let their toddlers do so!

"Diapered children frequently sat on top of splash features"---MMWR Gets To The Bottom Of 2007 Crypto Outbreak In Meridian, Idaho .

The 2007 closure of the splash park in Meridian, Idaho's popular Settler's Park after the  chlorine-resistant parasite Cryptosporidium began making people sick gets an autopsy in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for June 12, 2009.

MMWR, published by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), say Meridian "reopened the splash park in 2008 after installation of an ultraviolet treatment system, improvement of hygiene facilities, hiring of attendants to monitor for nonhygienic behaviors by visitors, and posting of educational signs instructing visitors not to drink the splash-feature water."

Health officials first learned of the problem at the Idaho splash poark when they learned of the complaints of "several ill persons with watery diarrhea consistent with cryptosporidiosis after attendance at a municipal splash park on July 26."

MMWR reports that: "The initial investigation by CDHD and IDHW began on August 7 with interviews of 20 persons who attended a party at the splash park on July 26. Among those 20 persons, 12 reported gastrointestinal illness that began August 1--6 (6--11 days after exposure), including eight persons who reported watery diarrhea. All 12 ill persons reported exposure to splash-feature water, and six reported exposure to water from a nearby drinking fountain. No food items at the party were implicated as the source of the outbreak. Investigators hypothesized that swallowing contaminated splash park water was the source of illness."

Additional investigation found that while there were no deaths nor over-night hospital stays, at least 45 people were ill from the crypto.  As to the cause: "During an initial site inspection, young children were observed to be the predominant users of the splash park, and diapered children frequently sat on top of splash features. Soap was not available in nearby restrooms, nor were showers. Public health education signs were not posted at the park. The splash park did not have any standing water; investigators noted that water drained from a concrete deck, passed through a high-flow sand filter, and was chlorinated before recirculation through several splash features."

See the complete report in MMWR.

Colorado City Keeps Water Off Until It Can Comply With Swimming Pool Regulations At New Public Fountain

The City of Arvada, the 100,000 plus suburb that fills in much of the space between Denver and Boulder counties in Colorado, boasts an "Olde Town" dating back to 1870.  Its been the subject of an intense urban renewal focus in recent years that has brought office, retail, and housing investment to the area.

The Olde Town Plaza includes a new water fountain in a space adjacent to a new Jefferson County Public Library.  On its website, the city recently announced that fountain "will remain off until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience."

However, in the letter to Olde Town's merchants, the city explained the situation.  "Public health officials have increased standards for "interactive fountains," which unfortunately, the Old Town fountain does not meet."   The letter said that with a holding tank of only 1,500 gallons and the extensive human contact with the fountain, it "has become a de facto swimming pool" with risk to public health and safety.  Risk from E. coli and Cryptosporidium were specifically mentioned as "potentially fatal" water borne diseases that concern the city.

In the letter, Arvada said other Colorado cities were having similar concerns for their water features.

Arvada is estimating it might cost $700,000 to add a proper filtration system, showers and rest rooms to the outdoor public space.  The Colorado Department of Health regulations Arvada is applying can be found here.

It is worth noting, the regulations are not new, but there application is.  It is just another example of how health department in the West are looking for ways to fight Crypto before it again overcomes them.

 

Swimming Pools Are Being Closed Once A Week In Name of Water Quality And Fighting Cryptosporidium

Last season's cryptosporidium outbreak across North Texas means there are going to be some changes at the local swimming pool this summer.

Like its bigger city neighbors of Dallas and Fort Worth, the City of Arlington, TX is going to fight cryptosporidium with a rotating one day a week closure of its swimming pools during the 2009 season.

The Arlington Star Telegram reports that:

Starting June 6, all six of Arlington’s outdoor pools and water parks will be closed one day a week for maintenance and cleaning. On any given day from Monday through Wednesday, only four pools will be open. But all will be open Thursday through Sunday, the peak swimming days.

The new schedule aims to improve water quality, provide time off for employees and save the city money on operating expenses, Parks Assistant Director Bill Gilmore said.

"All pools need a chance to refresh themselves," he said. "We don’t believe anybody will suffer, because there are other options."

Also In response to the Cryptosporidium outbreak last summer, the Texas city is installing signs at its public water parks and pools urging people not to swim if they have diarrhea. Crypto is a chlorine-resistant parasite that, if ingested, can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and fever for up to two weeks. It is found in feces and is usually spread through water.

A few more details can be found here.

Parasites In Pennsylvania: Can Summer Be Far Behind?

 Officals in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania have anounced that 3 individuals have beenconfirmed with cryptosporidium.    While public swimming pools are common source of

cryptosporidium outbreaks, there is reportedly no evidence of such a connection here.   None of the ill individuals had public pool exposures.  Officials are still investigating to possible source of the cluster of illnesses.

Symptoms of cryptosporidium generally occur 2 to 10 days after exposure.  Symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration.   The symptoms usually last 1 to 2 weeks, although they may last up to 4 weeks.  Persons with compromised immune system are at risk for more severe complications.

Swim Diapers Do Not Cut The Crypto From Spreading In Pools And Water Parks

Swim diapers do not prevent the spread of Cryptosporidium (Crypto) in swimming pools and water parks, according to a new University of North Carolina (UNC) - Charlotte study  

 

Researchers found swim diapers may slow the release of disease-causing germs, but the benefits are short-lived.

Crypto is spread when swimmers ingest some water that has been contaminated by diarrhea from infected people or mammals.  To prevent the spread of Crypto, the UNC-Charlotte reseachers advise that people should not get in the water if they have diarrhea.

During the last couple of summers, Crypto outbreaks have closed swimming pools and water parks throughout the Midwest and West, especially in Utah, Arizona, and Texas.   A common follow up to such outbreaks has been the banning of diaper-wearing, but usually permitting so-called swim diapers.  According to UNC-Charlotte:

The researchers measured the amount of microspheres that released from swim diapers worn by children. The microspheres have a similar size (five microns) to that of Crypto. Normal swim trunks, common disposable diapers and reusable diapers with and without vinyl diaper covers were tested. Swimming trunks without a swim diaper of any kind had the poorest performance - almost 90 percent of the microspheres were released into the water within one minute.

Swim diapers released about 50 percent of the microspheres within one minute. A vinyl diaper cover placed over a disposable swim diaper slightly improved performance. Still, over 25 percent were released into the water within two minutes. "When a fecal accident contains about a billion disease-causing Crypto oocysts, hundreds of millions of oocysts get into the water within minutes," explains Dr. James Amburgey, the lead scientist in the study. "Swimmers only need to ingest about ten Crypto oocysts to become infected."

Crypto is a parasite that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.   More about the study and where it will be next discussed can be found here.

New Cryptosporidium-Fighting Treatment Plant Comes To Joplin, MO

Joplin, MO just got itself a twofer.  A new water treatment facility will add an extra five million gallons of clean water a day for economic development AND it will inactivate the cryptosporidium bacteria with ultra violet light.

Joplin celebrated the new water treatment plant Thursday with a ribbon cutting.  Joplin's water is provided by St. Louis-based Missouri American Water, which provides utility services in 19 states and has invested $1.5 billion in new facilities in the past three years.

Christie Barnhart of Missouri American Water says this plant is also using new ultaviolet light technology.

"Specifically, the ultra violet light is the only form of treatment that inactivates a bacteria known as cryptosporidium and the use of UV treatment for surface water plants is an upcoming EPA regulation," says Barnhart. "So this is something that definitely does enhance water quality."

The new facility also improves Joplin's disinfection and filter systems.  The community decided to hold the ribbon cutting now in honor of National Drinking Water Week.  Joplin is located in southwest Missouri, not far from the borders of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

 

 

 

Mayor of Virginia Town Finds Himself "Doing A Little Side-step" As Crypto Brings "Boil Water" Order

The town well in Buchanan, VA is at risk due to Cryptosporidium, which is not killed by the chlorination process.

So the town is living with a "boil water" order and city council meetings are getting mean. And instead of talking about the Crypto in the water , Mayor Tom Middlecamp is talking up what's not in the water.

The mayor told residents that tests from April 7th indicate the town's RAW water has no traces of e.coli or total coliform.

Middlecamp said he had met with county leaders looking for a solution.

"I don't have any specifics to tell you right now because I don't know specifics, but as soon as I know. You'll be the first to know," says Middlecamp.

Buchanan is a town of 1,200 in Botetourt County located northeast of Roanoke.  After the "boil water" order was issued, 300 town angry residents turned out for the April 2nd city council meeting, and Buchanan has been in a mini uproar ever since.

The Roanoke Times has a story about it here.

Down-Under University Researchers Find One Person Could Be Responsible For Sydney's Big Crypto Outbreak

Sydney, Australia is undergoing an outbreak of Cryptosporidium that in a little more than a month has made 628 people sick. All of last year, the water rich city saw only 482 cases of Crypto.

And now the Star newspaper is reporting that the Sydney's entire cryptosporidium outbreak may be linked to a single infected person.

The latest genetic testing means it is unlikely that an infected animal or environmental conditions like the weather are to blame.

According to the Star, Macquarie University researchers say their testing is experimental, and unlikely to identify the origin of the current outbreak, but they hope their work will lead to the development of a world-leading, inexpensive automated test to quickly identify parasite strains involved in future outbreaks, allowing sources to be rapidly traced and infections contained.

Michelle Power, of Macquarie's biological sciences department, told the Star cryptosporidium outbreaks were difficult to trace using existing technology.

For more on what they are finding out down-under, the rest of the Star story can be found here

Portland, Yes Portland, Says George Bush Went Too Far On Water Quality

 We always go for a "man bites dog" story.

Consider this: President George W. Bush's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006 issued a STRONGER rule involving water quality for municipal water systems.   Now, the Portland City Council, which usually can be found a couple of clicks left of Hanoi on the dial, is fighting for a WEAKER standard.

 At issue is what the rule-makers call the LT2.  The Portland Water Bureau explains it thusly:

According to the EPA, "The purpose of the LT2 rule is to reduce illness linked with the contaminant Cryptosporidium and other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water." Cryptosporidium is a micro-organism (protozoan) naturally present in bodies of surface water throughout the world. Surface water supplies are particularly vulnerable if, unlike the city's Bull Run supply, they regularly receive runoff or pollution from human or animal wastes.

Compliance with the LT2 rule would have impacts on two separate parts of Portland's water system. First, the rule requires the city to provide additional treatment to its Bull Run supply to either remove or inactivate Cryptosporidium. The treatment options available to the city for this include filtration (either traditional or newer micro-membrane technology to remove the parasites), ozonation (the introduction of ozone to water to destroy the Cryptosporidium oocysts) chlorine dioxide (a chemical disinfectant) or ultraviolet radiation (ultraviolet lights irradiate the Cryptosporidium oocysts to prevent them from reproducing which is commonly referred to as inactivation).

Secondly, the rule would require changes to how open finished drinking water reservoirs are managed and operated. The rule requires that water systems with uncovered finished water reservoirs, like those at Portland's Mt.Tabor and Washington Parks, either cover the reservoirs or provide treatment at the outlets of the reservoirs to either remove or inactive Cryptosporidium and other viruses.

Portland's Willamette Week puts it this way:

Portland's source water, from Bull Run watershed, is far removed from human activity, including cattle. The city, which monitors the water on a monthly basis, hasn't detected Cryptosporidium since 2002. Because of this, the city has been challenging the LT2 rule, compliance with which would require the city to institute additional treatment facilities AND cover the open watershed—both very expensive and, the Water Bureau argues, unnecessary.

For a city that does many a silly thing in the name of the environment, this is an interesting issue.

For more from the Portland Water Bureau, go here. 

Catch the Willamette Week story here.