Pool closed due to poop - question

Try this CDC document first... www.cdc.gov/.../Fecal_Incident_Response_Recommendations_for_Pool_Staff.pdf For more info use this Google search... www.google.com/ There are specific formulas for treating various "bio-hazard" incidents in swimming pools. The quantity of sanitizing agent (usually chlorine, measured as ppm, or parts per million), and the treatment time, varies depending on the type of incident. Any CPO (certified pool operator) should know the proper response. The above CDC document covers things pretty thoroughly. If you like to be on top of things you may want to give it a read... then you will be more informed if something like this happens at your pool. Formed stools are not really that big a deal. A bucket of chlorine "at the scene of the crime" and 30min is pretty suitable... but really it depends on the Chlorine level of the pool at the time of the incident... and the quality of the pools circulation system. Most public use type pools will run Chlorine levels about 3ppm or higher. Most test kits measure a range of 0.5 to 5 ppm... so that is going to be the typical operating range for chlorine. You will notice that in the above CDC document that the Giardia Inactivation Time at 3ppm is 19 minutes. At 1 ppm, E. coli is zapped in "S. aureus is an incredibly hardy bacterium, as was shown in a study where it survived on a piece of polyester for just under three months, polyester being the main material used in hospital privacy curtains." en.wikipedia.org/.../Staphylococcus_aureus If it's gonna git ya... it's gonna git ya. As mentioned earlier, people not bathing or at least rinsing off (especially "crack wash") before entering a pool puts way more stress on a pools sanitary condition than a single formed stool incident. Loose stools are an entirely different situation, and will typically shut the pool down for the rest of the day... at least. Again... see the CDC document referenced here for the real deal. The idea of fining for these incidents sounds good, but maybe not. As mentioned most folks are too embarrassed by the incident and are gone before pool staff can identify them. This is a real shame, as knowing the health condition of the person who caused the incident can help determine the risk of operating the pool. ("Do we close for one day?... Or one week?") Most pools are run as a business, and rarely turn a profit... time and money (cost of treatment, etc.) are definitely factors that come into play. Draining and refilling a pool due to a fecal incident is totally impractical. This is a very costly process, especially for large (competition) pools. But I've heard that it is necessary in the event of broken glass! Aside from treating the water with chemicals, the most important factor is the pools circulation system. If this is not very efficient, or compromised, there may be parts of the pool that do not get as well treated (if at all) with fresh chemicals. Some older pools have relatively poor circulation systems... even when they are operating properly. Newer pools, especially large (competition) ones that have water return ports located on the bottom (as well as the sides), generally have far superior circulation systems. Gutter systems are far superior to skimmer ports (plus they greatly reduce wave action). ;) But.. as mentioned... it is best to just not think of it... and hope your pool has a good CPO. :blush:

Try this CDC document first... www.cdc.gov/.../Fecal_Incident_Response_Recommendations_for_Pool_Staff.pdf For more info use this Google search... www.google.com/ There are specific formulas for treating various "bio-hazard" incidents in swimming pools. The quantity of sanitizing agent (usually chlorine, measured as ppm, or parts per million), and the treatment time, varies depending on the type of incident. Any CPO (certified pool operator) should know the proper response. The above CDC document covers things pretty thoroughly. If you like to be on top of things you may want to give it a read... then you will be more informed if something like this happens at your pool. Formed stools are not really that big a deal. A bucket of chlorine "at the scene of the crime" and 30min is pretty suitable... but really it depends on the Chlorine level of the pool at the time of the incident... and the quality of the pools circulation system. Most public use type pools will run Chlorine levels about 3ppm or higher. Most test kits measure a range of 0.5 to 5 ppm... so that is going to be the typical operating range for chlorine. You will notice that in the above CDC document that the Giardia Inactivation Time at 3ppm is 19 minutes. At 1 ppm, E. coli is zapped in "S. aureus is an incredibly hardy bacterium, as was shown in a study where it survived on a piece of polyester for just under three months, polyester being the main material used in hospital privacy curtains." en.wikipedia.org/.../Staphylococcus_aureus If it's gonna git ya... it's gonna git ya. As mentioned earlier, people not bathing or at least rinsing off (especially "crack wash") before entering a pool puts way more stress on a pools sanitary condition than a single formed stool incident. Loose stools are an entirely different situation, and will typically shut the pool down for the rest of the day... at least. Again... see the CDC document referenced here for the real deal. The idea of fining for these incidents sounds good, but maybe not. As mentioned most folks are too embarrassed by the incident and are gone before pool staff can identify them. This is a real shame, as knowing the health condition of the person who caused the incident can help determine the risk of operating the pool. ("Do we close for one day?... Or one week?") Most pools are run as a business, and rarely turn a profit... time and money (cost of treatment, etc.) are definitely factors that come into play. Draining and refilling a pool due to a fecal incident is totally impractical. This is a very costly process, especially for large (competition) pools. But I've heard that it is necessary in the event of broken glass! Aside from treating the water with chemicals, the most important factor is the pools circulation system. If this is not very efficient, or compromised, there may be parts of the pool that do not get as well treated (if at all) with fresh chemicals. Some older pools have relatively poor circulation systems... even when they are operating properly. Newer pools, especially large (competition) ones that have water return ports located on the bottom (as well as the sides), generally have far superior circulation systems. Gutter systems are far superior to skimmer ports (plus they greatly reduce wave action). ;) But.. as mentioned... it is best to just not think of it... and hope your pool has a good CPO. :blush: