Morelle, N.Y. health, park officials discuss safety at sprayparks
Lauren Stanforth
Staff writer
(October 18, 2005) - New York state Assemblyman Joseph Morelle met with state health and park officials Monday to learn more about how the state will protect itself in the future against parasitic outbreaks at sprayparks.
Morelle, D-Irondequoit, chairman of the Assembly's committee on tourism, arts and sports development, has closely followed happenings after a parasite was found in water at the Seneca Lake State Park Sprayground in mid-August.
The outbreak caused at least 3,869 people to develop a gastrointestinal illness.
Morelle said he got information at the meeting about what sprayparks around the country are doing to protect themselves, and what the state has planned in terms of future regulations.
The state is on track to release new regulations governing sprayparks sometime in November. Morelle said lawmakers will then decide whether there is legislation that needs to be presented to make the regulations stronger.
Morelle said it has not been determined yet what caused the parasite, cryptosporidium, to get into the Sprayground's recycled water system. A spokesman for the New York state Health Department said last week that the investigation is continuing.
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, chairman of the Assembly's committee on health, and representatives from the state Attorney General's office also joined the meeting at the Greater Rochester International Airport. The Attorney General's office is representing the state in at least two class action lawsuits that have been filed on behalf of some of the people who got sick after attending the Sprayground sometime between June and mid-August.
LSTANFOR@DemocratandChronicle.com
