More than 40 Marion County residents have died as the result of drowning in the last five years, prompting the Marion County Public Health Department to remind all residents about the dangers posed by pools, ponds, streams, rivers and lakes.
Appropriate precautions should be taken whenever anyone is around water. This is especially true with children, who should never be left unattended near water. Many pools do not have lifeguards on duty, underscoring the need for children to be supervised at all times.
Nationally, children four years old and younger have the highest drowning rate, with a majority of these tragedies taking place in residential pools. More than 3,000 individuals die across the nation from drowning, while another 4,000 suffer a near drowning. Already this year in Marion County there have been several cases of near drowning.
While these statistics are alarming, water poses other health risks. Gastrointestinal illness is a significant public health concern often linked to recreational water. While public health agencies often warn about the dangers posed by ponds, streams, rivers and lakes, more than 75 percent of all gastrointestinal illnesses are associated with treated water sites like public and residential swimming pools.
“Our message is that recreational water, whether or not it has been treated, is not for drinking. We are especially concerned with younger individuals who may not fully understand the risk,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director, Marion County Public Health Department.
The Marion County Public Health Department inspects more than 911 pools in the county during peak usage in June, July and August. In any given year, the health department will complete more than 5,000 pool inspections. The health department inspects a minimum of 285 pools during the remaining nine months, although the department does not inspect private pools.
“Common violations we observe include a general lack of training among pool operators, issues with pumps or disinfection systems and poor routine maintenance,” said Adam Racket, supervisor, of the Department of Water Quality.
Health inspectors verify that pH and bacteriological levels are within the specified range and check that required safety equipment is available and in working condition. Mandated log sheets are also checked to verify the pool operator is completing daily maintenance.
Under some circumstances, pool conditions may cause the health department to close the pool until the code violation is corrected. Examples of these critical code violations include no measurable chlorine in the pool water, a cloudy condition where the bottom of the pool is not visible, a lack of appropriate lifeguards and if an individual with diarrhea has an accident in the pool and pumps, filtration systems or automatic disinfection systems not working.
Individuals wanting more information about pools and pool inspections can contact the Marion County Public Health Department at (317) 221-2266.
