July 15, 1999

The Board of Health has shut down dozens of community swimming pools this summer.

News Specialist Stacey Butler explains why.

It's not what we want to hear--but in some cases there are plenty of health hazards. Mostly in the pools that are a part of condominium or apartment complexes.

And most of us could swim in an unsafe pool all summer and not even know it.

County Health Inspector Lisa Chow oversees hundreds of pools each summer.

So far she has closed 26 pools for varying health violations.

She says you may swim in an unsafe pool and not even know it.

"People sometimes see the water clear, think its okay but its not," she says.

That's what one girl thought. She has a bacterial skin infection after swimming in a clear pool without enough chlorine.

Chow says, "There are a lot of violations that sometimes people cannot tell, and they have to count on the inspector to check the water and check the safety."

One of the biggest dangers in a pool is often ten feet under water--the drain.

Inspectors took a picture of a man with suction marks on his back from a hot tub drain. His friends pulled him out, but inspectors say in a pool--children are not always so lucky.

They can get their hair or swimming suits caught in the drain even if the grate is on.

Chow says, "The suction force is really strong. Sometimes that can cause a problem and people are not even aware of that."

Inspectors say they frequently find unsafe pools, all over the Salt Lake Valley.

"They don't have chlorine, they don't have chlorine. It happens both east side and west side pools."

Here are some things to watch for: show me font

• Have the chlorine levels checked at least twice a month either by management or the health department.
• Report missing drain covers to the health department immediately.
• Report any skin irritations that crop up after entering a pool to the Health Department.

If you have any questions you are urged to call the Health Department.