80
SPN DEC 2011 WorldNews
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk worldnews
POOL WATER DISEASE A MAJOR CONCERN SAYS FEDERAL REPORT
A new United States report has shown the number of outbreaks of disease from swimming pools is still a major cause of concern.
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that still more needs to be done to educate swimming pool owners and administrators to take stronger preventative measures on water safety.
US$9M WATER RIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST
The US town of Santa Claus in Indiana used to have one claim to fame as being home to the world’s first theme park. That was in 1946 but this year the town adds to its fame by building and opening the world’s largest and longest water coaster. The Mammoth ride, costing US$9m will open in Splashin’ Safari water park early next year. The Mammoth will begin with a conveyor ride up the sizeable incline in the park. Following the five-storey drop at a 45-degree angle, linear induction motors will propel the six- person round boats up additional hills, into dark enclosed sections and through twists and turns. Mammoth
will cover 1.2 hecares, increasing the water park’s size to 12 hectares. Mammoth’s tallest elevation is 21 metres higher than its lowest drop. The conveyor-style hill replaces any slide-tower stairs, making the water coaster accessible to riders who might have difficulty walking up stairs. “It will cause us considerable engineering problems and the need to guarantee safety is key but the new ride will show the world what is now possible when it comes to water rides and could spell a new generation of bigger and better rides. Kids will want to come here from all over the country,” said a spokesman for the specialist company building the pool.
It says there is not enough consistent high quality control of swimming pool water. Treatment to eliminate all such outbreaks of disease completely is possible it says, if the proper procedures are followed.
There were 134 waterborne disease outbreaks associated with swimming pools in the United States in the latest statistics available according to a new US federal report. The recreational water illness occurred in 38 US states and Puerto Rico and caused at least 13,966 cases of illness, and was the highest number of such outbreaks ever reported in a two-year period. The number of recreational water illness outbreaks – which include outbreaks linked to swimming pools – increased by
72% on the previous two year period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixty (45%) of the outbreaks were caused by cryptosporidium, a parasite that can be resistant to chlorine. Reversing the growing number of recreational water illness outbreaks will require improvements in swimming pool disinfection and operation, stronger pool regulations and enforcement, and better swimmer hygiene, the CDC said. The agency outlined a number of ways to prevent recreational water illness outbreaks:
Don’t swim when you have o diarrhoea. The illness-causing germs can spread in the water and make other people sick. Avoid getting pool water in your mouth.
Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing nappies. This will help prevent germs on your body from getting into the water. The analysis of national data also found more than 4,000 cases of illnesses and injuries occur each year due to chemicals in private and public pools. Good chemical- handling practices can prevent these problems, the CDC said.
CHINA’S OVERCROWDED POOLS ARE CAUSING HEALTH NIGHTMARES
China’s overcrowded swimming pools are causing major health problems, a new official survey has revealed.
China’s Health Ministry has announced that 10%
of public swimming pools in China exceed the safe limit for levels of urea, the chemical compound found in urine.
The study was released after the Health Ministry inspected 5,639 swimming pools in 24 Chinese provinces, municipalities and regions. They were inspected from June through to August this year. The study found that 90.8% of swimming pools meet urea guidelines while only 83.7% have met the standard for ‘residual chlorine’ content. The government has called the problem ‘a health disaster waiting to happen’.
China has a huge problem with overcrowding at public pools. A record number of pools are now
under construction this year but even the investment into new pools will do little to keep pace with the demand.
Research also determined that the total percentage of bacteria in a pool can reach 92.3% while the rate of coli bacteria can be as high as 96.9%. Chinese officials blame poor water circulation in their pools and state that refilling water has done little to help the overall situation.
After publishing their findings the Health Ministry began urging local departments to supervise urea and bacteria levels in their facilities in order to track and hopefully improve conditions at pools throughout the country.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92