Notice to Readers: Responding to Fecal Accidents in Disinfected Swimming Venues

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These recommendations are solely for management of fecal accidents in disinfected recreational water venues. The recommendations do not address use of other nonchlorine disinfectants because there is limited pathogen inactivation data for many of these compounds. Because improper handling of chlorinated disinfectants could cause injury, appropriate occupational safety and health requirements should be followed.

1. Direct everyone to leave all pools into which water containing the feces is circulated. Do not allow anyone to enter the contaminated pool(s) until all decontamination procedures are completed.

2. Remove as much of the fecal material as possible using a net or scoop and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. Clean and disinfect the net or scoop (e.g., after cleaning, leave the net or scoop immersed in the pool during disinfection). Vacuuming stool from the pool is not recommended*.

3. Raise the free available chlorine concentration to 2 mg/L, pH 7.2--7.5, if it is <2.0 mg/L. Ensure this concentration is found throughout all co-circulating pools by sampling at least three widely spaced locations away from return water outlets. This free available chlorine concentration was selected to keep the pool closure time to approximately 30 minutes. Other concentrations or closure times can be used as long as the CT inactivation value^† is kept constant (Table 1).

4. Maintain the free available chlorine concentration at 2.0 mg/L, pH 7.2--7.5, for at least 25 minutes before reopening the pool. State or local regulators may require higher free available chlorine levels in the presence of chlorine stabilizers such as chlorinated isocyanurates^§. Ensure that the filtration system is operating while the pool reaches and maintains the proper free available chlorine concentration during the disinfection process.

3. Raise the free available chlorine concentration to 20 mg/L^¶ and maintain the pH between 7.2 and 7.5. Ensure this concentration is found throughout all co-circulating pools by sampling at least three widely spaced locations away from return water outlets. This chlorine and pH level should be sufficient to inactivate Cryptosporidium and should be maintained for at least 8 hours, equivalent to a CT inactivation value of 9600. A higher or lower free available chlorine level/inactivation time can be used as long as a CT inactivation value equaling 9600 is maintained for Cryptosporidium inactivation. State or local regulators may require higher free available chlorine levels in the presence of chlorine stabilizers such as chlorinated isocyanurates. If necessary, consult an aquatics professional to determine and identify the feasibility, practical methods, and safety considerations before attempting the hyperchlorination of any pool.

4. Ensure that the filtration system is operating while the pool reaches and maintains the proper free available chlorine concentration during disinfection.

5. Backwash the filter thoroughly after reaching the CT value. Be sure the effluent is discharged directly to waste and in accordance with state or local regulations. Do not return the backwash through the filter. Where appropriate, replace the filter media.

6. Swimmers may be allowed into the pool after the required CT value has been achieved and the free available chlorine level has been returned to the normal operating range allowed by the state or local regulatory authority. Maintain the free available chlorine concentration and pH at standard operating levels based on state or local regulations. If necessary, consult state or local regulatory authorities for recommendations on bringing the free available chlorine levels back to an acceptable operating range.

* No uniform recommendations for disinfection of vacuum systems are available. However, if a vacuum system is accidentally used, the waste should be discharged directly to a sewer or other approved waste disposal system and not through the filtration system. The dilution effect of the pool water going through the hose may reduce the risk for high-level contamination of the vacuum system.

^† CT refers to concentration (C) of free available chlorine in mg/L or ppm multiplied by time (T) in minutes. If pool operators want to use a different chlorine concentration or inactivation time, they need to ensure that CT values always remain the same. For example, if an operator finds a formed fecal accident in the pool and his pool has a free available chlorine reading of 3 mg/L and a pH of 7.5, to determine how long the pool should be closed to swimmers, locate 3 mg/L in the left column of the table and then move right and read the pool closure time. The pool should be closed for 19 minutes. Example 2: The CT inactivation value for Cryptosporidium is 9600, which equals (20 mg/L)(480 minutes) (i.e., 8 hours). After a diarrheal accident in the pool, an operator determines she can only maintain 15 mg/L. How long would hyperchlorination take? Answer: 9600=CT=[(15)(T)];T=9600/15=640 minutes=10.7 hours.

^§ The impact of chlorine stabilizers (e.g., chlorinated isocyanurates) on pathogen inactivation and disinfectant measurement is unclear and requires further investigation. State or local regulations on chlorinated isocyanurates use should be consulted.

^¶ Many conventional test kits cannot measure free available chlorine levels this high. Use chlorine test strips that can measure free available chlorine in a range that includes 20mg/L (such as those used in the food industry) or make dilutions for use in a standard DPD (N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine) test kit using chlorine-free water.

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