With Crypto Creeping, Pools Need to be Clean

It amazes me that 80 percent of public and semi public pools in Dallas failed their inspections.  Yes, 80 percent!  Some, like Kidd Springs Park, didn’t even have Chlorine in the pool.  Say What!!!???

Here is the kicker, and it’s typical government non-sense.  Inspectors inspect the public pools before the season opens.  That is a good idea.  But they don’t require the pools to be up to speed before they inspect.  So what happens is, most pools fail because they simply didn’t try to pass because the pool was closed.

The inspector then tells them to clean up and fix all the things the operator most likely already knows he has to fix.

Here is my proposal, how about you mandate pools are in compliance, then send out the inspector.  It will give the city, the public and the inspectors a better picture of just how well pool operators really take care of their pool.

Why send an inspector to inspect a pool that everyone knows will fail?  It’s another example of backward bureaucracy.

D Magazine wrote a great article on this with a site where you can check the inspection reports of local pools.

My Crypto Tips

Cryptosporidium is gross.  It is carried in the fecal matter of people and when infected swimmers Sh** in the pool other swimmers run the risk of ingesting the parasite.  If that isn’t nasty enough, consider this, the average swimmer unknowingly ingests a quart of water while swimming.

Here are my tips to avoid the Crypto Colic:

1. Don’t swim in any pool where little kids swim.
2. Don’t put your head under water.
3. Don’t touch your mouth with your hands, wash them immediately after swimming.
4. Limit swimming to your own backyard pool. (If you don’t have one you’re out of luck.)
5. Don’t ever swim in a hot tub, those are the worst, the hot water breeds bacteria.

Those are not official tips, they are only the advice of Grant’s Rant.  I know public pool and water park operators take great precautions to keep you safe, but the fact is you are at the mercy of the other swimmers and you can never be fully protected from Crypto and its watery reign on your stomach.

Tales From the Crypto

Everywhere you go in North Texas people are fascinated by the recent Cryptosporidium outbreak that has already caused more then 100 people to become ill after a trip to their local public pool/lake.  Terms like “hyper” and “super” chlorination” are now common place on the evening news.

Sadly it all stems from people who don’t practice good hygiene or parents who don’t watch their kids closely enough.  Babies should wear water diapers and kids and adults should use a bathroom not the pool.  If people follow those simple rules, no one gets sick.

There is help though.  Plano uses a Ultra Violet light filter that is said to be 150 times more powerful then the sun.  Needless to say the UV filter kills everything in the water.  Plano only uses the UV filter on the indoor pools but is considering installing them on outdoor pools.

The UV filters are expensive, 60-thousand dollars each.  Even so, being the germ freak that I am, every pool should have one.  If they don’t, you won’t see me in it!

The Crypto is Chronic

It amazes me that the water born virus Cryptosporidium continues to make its way across the metroplex.  I have now confirmed, health investigators believe the entire outbreak started at Burgers Lake in Fort Worth, possibly by one infected swimmer.

The question is, who goes to the bathroom in a pool?  Little kids do, but could they all be solely responsible? I don’t think so.  And the only way to get Crypto is to ingest it, which means if you are swimming at a public pool make sure you make a special attempt NOT to ingest any water, and wash your hands and face when you come out of the pool.

The whole issue is disgusting and makes me never want to visit a public pool again.  Now comes word, the super germ may have killed a little girl.  I think it’s time the CDC pay a visit to North Texas.