[Summit] Fountain Water Cleanliness for Swimming

[Breslers]

I am a certified pool chemist and I can assure you that keeping pool water
actually safe requires multiple daily monitorings and tinkering, and that is
*without* dogs jumping in and birds flying over.

For starters chlorine evaporates quickly, AND, at above pH 7.8, is next to
useless, barely disinfects at all .  The last I heard, Providence water is
between 10.1 and 10.3 (the higher in the summer, I think). (The water board
must have an exemption from the 8.5 max which is federal law, because of the
solid lead pipes that run between the water main and many of our residential
dwellings.) Plus adding chlorine further raises the pH.

So the pH must also be monitored AND adjusted. (pH is acid base balance
between 0 & 14, 7 is neutral)

Also the water must be continually filtered to remove any particles too
large for the chlorine to immediately reach the center for disinfecting.

etc.  You get the idea. At a fountain? fugeddaboudit!

Unclean pool water can pass on: salmonella, shigella, herpes, legionnaire's
disease, strep B, parasites and whatever else is going around.

It's true we live in a world with bacteria everywhere, and we have an immune
system to deal with that. (Most of us) But pool water gets in our eyes and
mouth, which can be a more, eh, ...efficient way for the bacteria to make a
new home- in us. And pool water that has warmed up in the sun, to approach
body temperature, is a bacteria happy place for the ones that can live in
our bodies to multiply for an "major assault".

There are documented cases of people getting sick from splashing their hands
in pools and hot tubs on display in stores.

Enjoy the fountain. It's a really nice addition to our park, thanks!
But it is recommended to leave the water alone.

Mrs B


On Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 10:52 AM, <datenben at cox.net> wrote:

> My wife was concerned about the kids, and other creatures, swimming in the
> fountain. See below.
>
> > To: datenben at cox.net
> > Subject: fountain
> >
> > I called the parks department this am to inquire about the legality of
> swimming in fountains. The guy who answered was pretty nice he was like "I
> can't believe the stupidity of parents"  He said they are in the process of
> having no swimming signs posted- which he said was a shame because they are
> ugly.  I said I was concerned because I saw a dog in there and it's probably
> a health hazard because it isn't chlorinated. He said the water is
> chlorinated but it's still a safety issue.  So there you have it- swimming
> in fountains is illegal.
>
>
>
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