Pool Closure Due to Fecal Contamination
The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health and the Orange County Health Department have each issued recommendations for the management of fecal accidents at public pools. Cal State Fullerton has adopted applicable parts of these guidelines to minimize the spread of communicable diseases should fecal contamination occur. Once fecal matter or vomit has been discovered, the following procedure should be implemented:
- Instruct pool users to exit the pool immediately and restrict entry until these procedures have been completed. Post sign indicating that the pool is closed at the entrances during this time period.
- Remove the visible fecal matter with a net or scoop and dispose of it down the sanitary sewer. Do not vacuum the material. Disinfect the net or scoop by placing it into the pool throughout the decontamination process.
- Increase the concentration of free available chlorine to 10 parts per million (ppm) and maintain the pH at 7.2 – 7.5 for at least 24 hours. At this chlorine concentration and contact time, CSUF exceeds state and local requirements to ensure the safety of staff and students. Adding chlorine may alter the pH, so closely monitor the pH throughout this period. Backwash the filter to the sanitary sewer after contamination with diarrhea has occurred and before re-opening the pool. To ensure adequate pH and chlorine concentrations, sample in at least three widely spaced locations away from return water inlets. Another option is to
- Re-open the pool only after the required time, pH, and chlorine values have been achieved and after free available chlorine concentrations fall below 5 ppm.
- Log the date; time of event; whether it was a solid stool or diarrhea contamination; free available chlorine concentration at the time the contamination was discovered; the free available chlorine concentration, pH, and time samples were collected before re-opening the pool; and a description of the processes used to respond to the accident.
CSUF does not currently add an isocyanurate stabilizer to the pool water, but contact times should be increased if they have been added. The affect of this and other stabilizers on the decontamination process has not been studied at this time.
The chlorine test kit used at CSUF may not detect chlorine at the concentration indicated. To accurately test the concentration dilute the sample with 10 parts chlorine free water to one part pool water. When sampling this dilute solution, multiply the result by 10 to calculate the free available chlorine concentration in the pool.