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Lengthy closure for pool after outbreak (From The Argus)
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Patcham High pool closed due to bacteria
9:50am Monday 19th November 2012 in News
A school’s swimming pool is set to remain closed until January after a legionella outbreak.
The Argus reported last month how Patcham High school after a higher than normal reading of the water-born bacteria was found in a shower head adjacent to the pool.
The pool had to be closed despite being useable as students would not be allowed to use the showers.
To eliminate the bacteria, the water system was disinfected and the school had to wait until three ‘clear’ bacteria-level readings had been received.
While the bacteria levels have reduced, they are still not completely clear, meaning major works to the water system will now be necessary.
In a letter to parents, the headteacher Paula Sargent wrote: “I am working closely with our PFI providers, Semperian and PPP-iml, whose job it is to implement and fund the necessary works to the water system to resolve this situation quickly.
“They have drawn up an action plan which, among other remedial works, includes the replacement of several sections of our pipework as it is now very old and a major contributor to the recent problems.
“This work will be carried out as quickly as possible but, in the meantime, I regret to say that the pool will have to remain closed.
“I know this situation will be as frustrating to you as it is to me, but the overriding consideration here is for everyone’s health. I do believe that these major works to our water system will be beneficial in the long term and I am hopeful that the pool will be reopened to students by January.”
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Comments(5)
Be_Real
says...
11:08am Mon 19 Nov 12
1) There has been no 'legionella outbreak'.
2) Only the bacteria has been found (and dealt with) that could have given rise to this disease.
3) The bacteria was found in the shower and not in the pool.
4) The pool has not been closed. Only a pragmatic decision by the school, not to use the pool in the mornings in order to avoid pupils being covered in the usual swimming pool chemicals for the whole day.
5) As a previous reader has mentioned, the pool is in use where people have an opportunity to have a shower/bath within a reasonable period after the event.
I find it really hard to believe that a so called local paper can repeatedly get the same store wrong on many occasions.
John Steed
says...
11:18am Mon 19 Nov 12
what sort of PPI agreement is in place.
and finaly is the whole water system infected both hot and/or cold or is it medium temperature themostatically mixed water delivery pipes and heads that are affected. somebodiy needs a rap across the knuckles for this preventable embarrisment.
it took me 2 secs to find this relevant info
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns
/iacl27.pdf
pwlr1966
says...
11:41am Mon 19 Nov 12
John Steed wrote:Schools regularly have their shower heads & water supplies tested for harmfull bacteria, this is when it would have been detected. So in fact the system is working.
what happened to routine maintainance, surely this pool has a planned maintainance programme, and a full H&S risk assessment has been carried out what sort of PPI agreement is in place. and finaly is the whole water system infected both hot and/or cold or is it medium temperature themostatically mixed water delivery pipes and heads that are affected. somebodiy needs a rap across the knuckles for this preventable embarrisment. it took me 2 secs to find this relevant info www.hse.gov.uk/pubns /iacl27.pdf
derekhunt
says...
6:19pm Mon 19 Nov 12
Be_Real wrote:It's as important to shower before you go into a pool to stop all the germs/lotions/dirts etc from getting into the pool water as it is to wash the pool water off afterwards
Argus, please get your facts right.
1) There has been no 'legionella outbreak'.
2) Only the bacteria has been found (and dealt with) that could have given rise to this disease.
3) The bacteria was found in the shower and not in the pool.
4) The pool has not been closed. Only a pragmatic decision by the school, not to use the pool in the mornings in order to avoid pupils being covered in the usual swimming pool chemicals for the whole day.
5) As a previous reader has mentioned, the pool is in use where people have an opportunity to have a shower/bath within a reasonable period after the event.
I find it really hard to believe that a so called local paper can repeatedly get the same store wrong on many occasions.
MarkLachlan says...
10:34am Mon 19 Nov 12