Dealing With Pool Problems and Accidents

Handling Accidents Accidents on the Pool Deck, Washrooms or Other Common Areas
Fecal and Voitus Accidents in Pool Water
Blood Spills in Pools
Diaper Use at Wading Pool Facilities
Cleaning and Disinfecting Whirlpools

Handling Pool Accidents

Handling Fecal/Vomitus Accidents on the Pool Deck, Washrooms or Other Common Areas
From time to time, vomiting and fecal accidents occur in areas of the facility outside of the pool basin.  Appropriate steps must be taken to clean and disinfect the contaminated area to protect employees and patrons.  These steps include:

1. Remove and dispose of all fecal material/vomitus into a toilet.
2. Wash the contaminated area with soap and water, flushing all waste away from the pool.
3. Sanitize the contaminated ara with 100 ppm of chlorine (bleach).

NOTE:  Always wear gloves when cleaning these types of accidents.
Contact your District Public Health Inspector on the next working day to inform him/her of actions taken.

Protocol for Handling Fecal/Vomitus Accidents in Swimming Pool Water
PDF Version

There are two different procedures recommended for disinfecting swimming pool water that has been contaminated by fecal/vomitus accidents. Depending on the type of contamination, one of these procedures should be followed to protect the public and facility staff from infection or illness.

Procedure A should be followed when the pool water is contaminated with normally formed stools. Quick action on the part of the pool operator is likely to kill any pathogens associated with this type of contamination.

Procedure B should be followed when the pool water is contaminated with watery stool. Organisms that are sensitive to chlorine, and parasites such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia, that are not sensitive to chlorine, can be introduced to pool water by liquid diarrheal stools, and special care must be taken to prevent illness associated with
organisms.

NOTE: When cleaning and disinfecting areas contaminated with fecal material or vomitus, staff should wear the appropriate protective equipment for the job (e.g.. gloves, rubber boots, aprons, face mask, etc. may be required if large amounts of chlorine are to be used).

Procedure A – Pool Water Contaminated With Normally Formed Stools or With Vomitus

1. Evacuate the pool immediately.
2. Remove fecal material from the pool using a scooping device and dispose of stools into a toilet. Clean and disinfect all equipment used for removing the fecal material, with a detergent solution, followed by a chlorine solution (i.e. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
3. Manually superchlorinate the contaminated area of the pool to at least 10 ppm free available chlorine and allow pool water to recirculate for 1 hour. Note: pH must be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8 to ensure chlorine effectiveness.
4. Test the water to ensure the chlorine and pH meet regulatory requirements prior to re-opening the pool. Take samples for bacterial analysis (i.e. total coliforms and fecal coliforms - One sample should be taken for each analysis at a water depth of at least 1 foot below the water’s surface)
5. Document in your logbook all steps taken, and all analytical results obtained.

Procedure B – Pool Water contaminated With Diarrhea

1. Evacuate the pool immediately.
2. Remove any visible stool with a scooping device and dispose of the material into a toilet. Clean and disinfect all equipment used for removing the fecal material, with a detergent solution, followed by a chlorine solution (i.e. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
3. Provide enough chlorine to ensure a CT (Concentration/Time) Value of 9600. NOTE: A CT Value of 9600 is any combination of chlorine concentration and time, in minutes that will yield 9600.
   
   Eg. Raising the chlorine residual to 20 ppm, and running the recirculation equipment for 8 hours will provide a CT of 9600, if the pH is maintained between 7.2 to 7.8 to ensure chlorine effectiveness. (i.e. 20 ppm X 8 hours X 60 minutes/hour = 9600) (Ensure the pool equipment can withstand the high chlorine concentration)
   
   
4. Clean and brush down the walls of the pool, the skimmer housings, and skimmer baskets.
5. Backwash the filters to waste.
6. Disinfect the filters using one of the procedures listed:
   1. Sand Filters – Add 30 liters of sodium hypochlorite directly into the filter and let stand 6 – 8 hours. Amount of sodium hypochlorite added to filters may vary depending on filter size (i.e. Larger filters will require more sodium hypochlorite). Backwash again.
   2. Cartridge Filters – Remove the cartridge and clean and disinfect the filter casing thoroughly with 200 ppm solution of chlorine for 1 hour. Rinse and allow the casing to dry completely.
   3. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters – Clean the DE off the filters, dispose of the DE, and soak the tank and septums in a 100 ppm solution of chlorine for 2 hours.
7. Disinfect the deck area surrounding the swimming pool with 100 ppm chlorine (bleach) solution or equivalent.
8. Restart the recirculation system and test the water to ensure the chlorine and pH meet regulatory requirements prior to re-opening the pool. Take samples for bacterial analysis (i.e. total coliforms and fecal coliforms - One sample should be taken for each analysis at a water depth of at least 1 foot below the water’s surface)
9. Documents all steps taken, and all analytical results obtained in your log book. Contact your District Public Health Inspector on the next working day to inform him/her of actions taken. Fecal Accidents or Vomiting on the Pool Deck, Washrooms or Other Common Areas.

From time to time vomiting and fecal accidents occur in areas of the facility outside of the pool basin. Appropriate steps must be taken to clean and disinfect the contaminated area to protect employees and patrons. These steps include:

1. Remove and dispose of all fecal material/vomitus into a toilet.
2. Wash the contaminated area with soap and water, flushing all waste away from the pool.
3. Sanitize the contaminated area with 100 ppm chlorine (bleach).

NOTE: Always wear gloves when cleaning these types of accidents. Procedure B is based on protocol provided by Nelson Fok, Manager R&D, Environmental Health, Captial Health, Edmonton, Alberta, with input from the Medical Officer of Health, Environmental Health Officers from the Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg and employees from the Public Works Department of the City of Winnipeg.

Was your hands with warm water and soap as soon as possible after contact. If blood has contacted an open sore or cut contact your doctor.

Protect your hands with disposable latex gloves when cleaning spills.

Wear disposable latex gloves when helping a patron with a nose bleed or bleeding cut.

Wash anything that has been soiled with blood with soap and water first. Then, wash a second time with a disinfectant, (i.e. one part solution hypochlorite to 9 parts water solution). If disinfecting with a quaternarium ammonium compound, follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the concentration.

Diaper Use at Wading Pool Facilities

All fecal matter must be contained in the garment worn by the child, so as not to contaminate the wading pool. This includes disposable diapers, bathing suits, and any other type of bathing garment.

Tight fitting rubber panties either by themselves or worn over a diaper is recommended.

Nude children are not allowed to enter the pool.

Parents or persons responsible for looking after the child are required to ensure the garments are properly maintained, changed when required, and do not fall into a state of deterioration.

All children are to be supervised. Pool operators must remove any unsupervised children from a wading pool.

Close the wading pool if fecal material is introduced into the wading pool water and implement the cleaning and disinfecting procedures for a fecal contaminated swimming pool.

Protocol For Cleaning and Disinfecting Whirlpools Contaminated With Infections Agents, Fecal Material or Vomit
PDF Version

The following procedure is recommended to clean and disinfect whirlpools contaminated with fecal material, vomit or infectious agents such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

NOTE: When cleaning and disinfecting areas contaminated with fecal material or vomitus, staff should wear the appropriate protective equipment for the job (i.e. gloves, rubber boots, aprons, face mask, etc. may be required if large amounts of chlorine are to be used).


Proccedure:

1. Close the whirlpool.
2. Remove fecal material/ vomitus from the pool using a scooping device and dispose of
stools/vomitus into a toilet.
Clean and disinfect all equipment used for removing the fecal material, with a detergent
solution, followed by a chlorine solution (i.e. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
3. Turn the heater off. Wait until the heating unit has cooled.
4. Drain the whirlpool. Ensure the whirlpool area is well ventilated.
5. Clean the whirlpool basin with a detergent solution. Thoroughly scrub all fixtures and
surfaces ensuring all grease and scum have been removed. Rinse the solution to drain.
6. Fill the whirlpool to the halfway point of the skimmer mouth ensuring that the air lines of
the hydro jets are flooded.
7. Superchlorinate the water with a chlorine residual of 50 ppm.
8. Turn off all equipment that functions when the filter pump is on (i.e. chemical feeders,
pH controllers and other chemical controllers).
9. Turn the filter pump on and circulate for a minimum 2 ½ hours. During this period, turn
the hydro jet pump on for a minimum 20 minutes.
10. Disinfect the deck area surrounding the whirlpool with 100 ppm chlorine (bleach)
solution.
11. After recirculating the superchlorinated water for 2 ½ hours, backwash the filter to waste.
12. Drain the whirlpool and hydro jet lines.
13. Refill the whirlpool and immediately repeat backwashing the filter.
14. Top up the whirlpool water level and turn on any equipment that functions with the filter
pump.
15. Balance the water chemistry and ensure pH is between 7.2 and 7.8, and that the
disinfectant residual is between 1.0 and 5.0 ppm free available chlorine or equivalent
prior to re-opening.
16. Test the water to ensure the chlorine and pH meet regulatory requirements prior to reopening
the pool. Take samples for bacterial analysis (i.e. total coliforms, fecal coliforms
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa- One sample should be taken for each analysis at a
water depth of at least 1 foot below the water’s surface)
17. Document in your logbook all steps taken, and all analytical results obtained.

NOTE: As a preventative measure, it is recommended that whirlpools be emptied and
cleaned a minimum once per week.