Before you jump in a public pool this summer—make sure you check its violations record.
A new report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), released on May 19, shows 80 percent of public aquatic venues had at least one violation when inspected. Almost 13 percent had severe violations that required immediate closure, while 20 percent of children’s wading pools were forced to do the same.
The CDC studied more than 84,000 routine inspection records for more than 48,000 public aquatic facilities, including pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds. Out of the records, about 66,000 of them were violations, while more than 8,000 routine inspections resulted in immediate closure because of at least one identified violation that represented a serious threat to public health.
“No one should get sick or hurt when visiting a public pool, hot tub, or water playground,” said Beth Bell, director of CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.
“That’s why public health and aquatics professionals work together to improve the operation and maintenance of these public places so people will be healthy and safe when they swim,” Bell said.
