It will soon be time for swimming pools and splash pads to once again open for the season. These facilities are synonymous with summer fun in our community.

In preparation, Healthy and Safe Swimming Week is celebrated every year in May. The team at Mesa County Public Health wants your employees and their families to enjoy a healthy and positive experience this summer at water destinations.

Our team helps operators maintain safe and healthy swimming pools. We inspect all public pools and spas in Mesa County every year. Last year, our team completed 88 inspections of pools, hot tubs and other aquatic facilities. We work with local facilities to make sure they operate safely so people can swim without getting sick or injured.

“When you plan to take your family to the pool this summer, you shouldn’t need to wonder if the pool is safe to swim in, if someone is testing the water daily or if you need to do anything more than have fun in the sun,” said Damian Czaplinski, an environmental health specialist with Mesa County Public Health.

Ensuring proper maintenance of disinfection and recirculation systems is key to preventing public health problems. Our team looks at the essential chemicals for keeping water safe from waterborne pathogens as well as the chemicals required to balance the water to prevent avoidable maintenance on the pool and its systems. We also check on locker rooms, showers and the other physical facilities.
We want to ensure these spaces are kept clean and tidy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common germs that cause swimming-related illnesses include cryptosporidium (crypto), legionella, norovirus, E. coli and giardia. Most of these germs are transmitted through poop. Chlorine kills most bacteria within minutes. But some germs can live in pools for days. Swallowing even a small amount of contaminated water can make people sick.

The best way to protect everyone is to keep these germs out of the water. Do not swim if you are sick, especially if you have diarrhea. If you or your children have been sick with diarrhea in the last two weeks, you should stay out of the water. It’s also a good idea to shower before you swim. While at the pool, don’t swallow any water while swimming. We recommend parents take kids on regular bathroom breaks and check diapers every hour.

“While our team only inspects public pools and aquatic facilities, make sure to treat your pool and hot tub at home as well,” Czaplinski said.

If you or your employees have any questions or concerns as we head into pool season, head to our website at mesacounty.us/public-health or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website located at
cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming.

By sharing these resources with your staff and keeping these tips in mind, we can all enjoy safe and fun pool experiences this summer.