Swimming Pool

To whom it may concern

I have given up using the pool.

I heard that several people had suffered mild ear infections on the development and that a medical contact had suggested that the pool might be the source. A day before I heard this I went for a dip (carefully avoiding the screaming kids who wereumping in despite the oversized rules board) and a few days after I had heard this theory I was suffering from a mild infection. Coincidence? Maybe.

However, when I think about it, any public pools tend to REEK of chlorine, and ours has either no smell or hardly any. Granted public pools cater to MUCH more people, but they are also larger. Our oversized bathtub is generally overflowing with people of varying levels of personal hygiene and house training, so I am surprised that I cannot smell any chemicals. It was suggested recently that these chemicals cost a fair bit of cash and that several pool cleaning companies skimp - any thoughts?

My parents have a house on site and everytime they have used the pool they have developed an ear infection.  They now very rarely use the pool for this reason and if they do brave it they wear ear plugs.

Unfortunately at this time of year when the pools full every day it really needs to be cleaned a lot more than it is to ensure people don't get these kinds of infections.  But as you have said chemicals etc cost money and I presume this is a factor of why its not done under the current contract as much as it should be. 

If the pool is not getting cleaned to a satisfactory standard, then I would believe that the pool cleaners are in breach of contract. If they state that it costs more to add additional chemicals to maintain the required standard, Then that cost should have added when the quote was first submitted. Also I believe that pool should have a higher standard of maintenance in the summer months, than would be required in winter months. This should also have been taken in to account on the costings on a annual basis.   

Hi All

I believe the contractor (Bobby) does use chemicals, but is it enough? Perhaps it is being given the amount for a private pool of that size and not a communcal pool? Or maybe there is a margin cutting going on - I hate to think that is the case, but it is possible, and with all these infections...

I can´t se us facing a law suit, as we would be suing ourselves, surely. If infections are being caused or passed on by the pool, then it might be the cleaners who would be liable - although I have not had the privelege of reading the contract myself, so I have no real idea.

I would like to hear that the committee has consulted with the cleaner and also with some public health authority to ensure that this pool is receiving the appropriate maintenance for its size and community numbers.

Does the committee read this stuff, or should we be passing this thread on to them?

i think you would have to contact the comittee directly to raise this matter

I feel when the quote was done that all aspects should have been taken into acount, ie size of pool, population of the community & usage etc throughout the year. The pool will require higher level chemicals and maintance in the busier months and lesser in the winter months.

All these factors should have been taken into account when the quote was submitted. 

If it is down to profit margins, well we all know what happened NHS giving out free doses of MRSA, perhaps someone should nip over to the pool with a jam jar take a sample for analysis to determine if the water quality is correct.

Hi folks

read your comments with interest - my sister-in-law was out at the end of July with her family and she told me that the pool was dirty with sticking plasters at the bottom etc. and she also mentioned the ear infections.

It has been a while since I have been on this site but I am due out next week and a committee meeting is planned for 2/9/09 - I had intended to raise this issue then. I suggest that people forward their comments to the president or a committee member so as to have it formally registered.

vincent

Vincent,

I thought you were a committee member.

yes I am a committee member and will be raising these issues. If you want to send any more info feel free to do so. will be heading out on saturday

vincent

Hi Vincent

I am glad that you are going to look into this matter!

What I don't understand is last year we only had Colin running the show, plus one other person a Spaniard I believe. Now we have whole army of Presidents/ Vice Presidents & Committee Members etc. All to look a pool which not much bigger than a splashpool, does anyone from the above, do they not make any oberservations themselves, on our behalves to check that standards are be maintained.