Pools get clean bill of health
Richmond's public indoor pools have enjoyed a relatively clean bill of health, according to recent records obtained by The Richmond Review via a Freedom of Information request to Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.
Health inspectors were given few reasons to take action from January 2010 to Aug. 1, 2011, during which officials were forced to briefly close a pool facility just once.
The closure came Feb. 22 at Watermania, when an inspector found insufficient chlorine levels at the pool. Pool staff quickly resolved the problem and the pool reopened later that day.
At Minoru Aquatic Centre, most issues cited by health inspectors dealt with pool maintenance issues. A loose deck ladder was noted a few times, as were broken tiles in a hallway at the facility. Other complaints dealt with unacceptable alkalinity and chlorine levels.
In 2007, health officials closed Watermania for 24 hours after investigating complaints about swimmers falling ill at a major swim meet. A high level of chloramines in the air caused skin, eye and respiratory irritation for hundreds of people.
In that case, inspectors found the ventilation system wasn't drawing enough fresh air into the facility. That issue was subsequently resolved.
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