Are pools ready, safe for use this summer?

Chennai: Summers bring with them the joy of water pools and recreational swimming pools for people. But one fact that shouldn't be ignored is that is these pools are a huge health risk, being carriers of bacterial infections and allergy.
Several cases of bacterial infections after the use of such pools are reaching medicos every day. S Ilavarasan, a resident of Peravallur, caught ear infections and fever after visiting a water park recently. Many cases of conjunctivitis after the use of swimming pools are already registered.

This highlights the need for proper measures to be taken before using public pools, which is often ignored. Dean of Kilpauk Medical College, Dr Vasanthamani says, "With water-borne diseases being a common affair in Chennai, water pools are generally not apportioned the blame, but they can lead to severe allergy, recreational water illness."

It is not just allergy and bacterial infections that infect, but people also catch water-borne diseases due to consumption of contaminated water while swimming. "Recreational pools affect people by causing diseases such as ENT (ear, nose and throat) infections, Paratyphoid, Conjunctivitis, ear infections, fever and other contagious diseases," said Dr Shanthi, member of Doctors' Association for Social Welfare.

Responsibility lies on owners and managers of public pools too, who need to ponder on these factors. The manager of a public water pool in North Chennai, Vinoth K, says that they are directed to ensure clean and chlorinated water. "We also add suggested additives to not make pools a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. All water recreational centres should follow the direction for the maintenance of public pools," he added.