Testing the waters

Users of public and commercial pools in Cape Girardeau County could find themselves splashing in bacteria-filled water without any regulations to protect them.

The county's health department annually tests water quality at 14 swimming pools and a local water slide even though, except for motel pools, it has no legal mandate to do so.

But Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, said she discovered there is no legal mandate to do so after testing earlier this summer revealed bacteria at the Lickitysplit Water Slide in Jackson, Mo. Bacteria in the water can cause infections, she said.

Craig couldn't identify the specific bacteria in the water, and she said there were no reports of water slide customers getting sick.

Lickitysplit's owner, Bud Leuckel, said he has corrected the problem, fixing a faulty machine that dispenses granular chlorine into the water and even "shocking" the water with added chlorine to kill any bacteria.

"We've got it in good shape now," he said this week.

Craig said her staff has continued to take water samples to monitor the situation.

Keeping the water free of bacteria can be difficult, Craig said. "Pools, and water slides in particular, are very difficult to regulate mainly because chlorine evaporates so very quickly," she said.

While praising Leuckel's cooperation, Craig said the whole incident has raised legal doubts about whether her office could force operators of swimming pools or water parks to correct water problems.

She said she may ask the county commission to consider adopting an ordinance that would require pool testing and give her office the legal power to enforce it.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has left pool water testing up to local health departments over the years and only stepped in when serious water quality problems have surfaced.

"We have a state statute for food and one for sewage. There simply is no state statute that deals specifically with swimming pools," Craig said.

But a state health official says his agency does have power to deal with pools under a 1955 state regulation to close "public bathing" places, if necessary.

Still, Daryel Brock said his agency hasn't plunged into widespread pool regulations. Even the state regulation currently on the books is seldom used.

"We don't actively enforce it," said Brock, a section chief with the state health department's environmental public health office in Jefferson City, Mo. "It is such an old regulation, we probably need to upgrade it."

Brock, who has been at his job for about a year, promises more aggressive enforcement, particularly in light of a new state regulation on licensing motels.

The regulation, which took effect in March, requires motel pools -- which already are inspected annually by county health officers -- to meet industry standards, including those dealing with water quality, as part of motel licensing requirements.

"What we had before was just a guideline," said Brock. "It wasn't as enforceable as now."

But the new regulation deals only with motel pools. It doesn't require any testing of water in municipal pools, private pools or water parks, even though the state health lab tests any water samples sent in by local health departments.

Could take years

Brock said the state may need to look at adopting regulations to govern those pools and water parks. But he said it could take several years to draft and implement a new rule.

A local ordinance could be the answer, he said. Some counties already have health ordinances that address water quality, making enforcement easier.

Debra Rau of Cape Girardeau and her two daughters, ages 9 and 4, swim almost daily at Capaha Pool. Rau said health officials need to continue testing pool water, not only to check for bacteria but to make sure that the water doesn't have too much chlorine.

Rau said she doesn't understand why the state only mandates such testing when it involves motel pools. "That's insane," she said.

Even without a local ordinance, Craig said her department will continue to test the water quality at local pools and the water slide.

Craig said her office checks for bacteria in the water in late June or early July. Further testing is done if problems are found.

Eleven of the 15 commercial and public pools have been tested so far this year. "The rest are being wrapped up this week and next week," she said.

Doug Gannon, who supervises operations at Cape Girardeau's two public swimming pools, welcomes the water quality checks.

"You want to make sure things are as safe as things can be," he said.

Leuckel echoed Gannon's comments.

"I really appreciate their help," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

ANNUAL INSPECTIONS

The Cape Girardeau County Health Department annually inspects the water quality of 14 swimming pools and a water slide. They are:

Capaha Pool

Central Municipal Pool

Cape Girardeau Country Club

Kimbeland Country Club

Jackson City Swimming Pool

Drury Inn and Suites in Jackson

Drury Suites in Cape Girardeau

Drury Lodge

Holiday Inn

Parker Pool at Southeast Missouri State University

Pear Tree Inn

Super 8 Motel

Town House Inn

Victorian Inn

Lickitysplit Water Slide