Campgrounds and Pools
The Division of Environmental Health works to prevent illness for people who swim,
soak, or play in public pools, spas, or hot tubs by conducting routine inspections
of public swimming polls, spas and hot tubs, investigate possible illnesses, investigate
complaints, and provide education opportunities. The Health Department conducts
a pool seminar annually prior to the swim season.
Public pools, i.e. motels and municipal,
are monitored by Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality
Public Swimming Pool Monitoring.
Outdoor pools are inspected at least
once a year or season. Indoor pools are inspected at least twice a year.
The public pool sampling requirement is once a week while in operation.
When a pool contamination event occurs,
whether human or animal, large pieces of debris can be removed with a fine mesh
scoop. The fine debris should be vacuumed up to the pool filter and then backwashed
to waste. Then the pool should be shocked.
Shocking destroys algae, bacteria,
chloramines, and human wastes. Follow the disinfectant manufacturer’s recommendation
for the proper amount of treatment chemical to use. For example, to shock
a 1,000 gallon pool using a 5% active chlorine product, 2.40 quarts of disinfectant
should be used.
Use this equation to figure out the
volume of your pool:
Rectangular pool: length x width x
average depth x 7.5 = volume
Circular pool: diameter x average depth x 5.9 = volume
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Pool Chemistry |
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Calcium Hardness: |
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200 ppm – 400ppm |
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Ideal pH range: |
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7.4 – 7.6 |
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Chlorine range: |
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1ppm – 3ppm |
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Bromine range: |
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2.0ppm – 4.0ppm |
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Ideal Alkalinity range: |
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80ppm – 120ppm |
Chlorine and Bromine should be tested
twice a day. Ranges will vary with weather conditions and bather load.
A recommended test kit to use is a
good, reliable test kit.
*ppm = parts per million; example:
1oz to 1,000,000oz
Safety
Pool safeties for public pools are defined by
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality rules. Residential pools should
have first aid kits and some sort of floatation devices available. When most people
think about concerns related to swimming during summertime, drowning, diving injuries,
and sunburns come to mind. However, few people think about getting sick from germs
found in contaminated water.
A rule of thumb for pool safety is,
if the water is cloudy or you can not see the bottom, DON’T SWIM!
Chlorine and bromine should be stored
in a cool, dry area. Store away from other chemicals and petroleum products.
Muratic acid should be stored by itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was swimming in a pool and a day later I noticed I had a rash, what should I do?
Contact your health care provider first and
tell them that you developed a rash after swimming in a pool. They can evaluate
the need for treatment to make you well. Contact our office and let us know
the name of the pool. We will investigate the incident and attempt to determine
the cause of the rash.
I was swimming in a lake and developed what my
neighbor called swimmers itch. What should I do?
Contact your health care provider for treatment.
Contact our department to report when and where you went swimming.
What is swimmers itch anyway?
Swimmers itch usually refers to a rash caused
by a little parasite that burrows under your skin and dies. To avoid the rash,
you should shower immediately after leaving the water and towel dry and put on some
dry clothes. Try to remove little water droplets before they dry on your skin.
The little parasite lives in the water and can survive in a water droplet long enough
to burrow under your skin.
Contact Information:
Dave Peters
Public Swimming Pools Sanitarian
(810) 987-5306
dpeters@hd.stclaircounty.org
For more information, visit these
websites:
Questions and Answers for Swimmers
Fact Sheets
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