Public Commons

Part of Correspondence: Wading Pool Safety

Hello Vince,

I am told that you have explained the disruptive wading pool draining as a public health requirement. Since wading pools are unregulated by law, we are only aware of this Ministry of Health document, which refers to guidelines, not requirements: http://publiccommons.ca/documents/504?instanceid=701&path=666-,762-51

Please send me the exact reference to the public health requirement, or let me know if I need to go through freedom of information. I would also appreciate any specific reference to the failure of chlorine to sanitize the water sufficiently in the absence of draining.

Jutta

Hi Mahesh,

The Community at Dufferin Grove Park is requesting confirmation from Public Health on the requirements to drain the wading pool (every four hours) and other sanitation requirements. Aquatic Recreation direct our wading pool staff to follow the Health protocols articulated in the wading pool guidelines as directed by TPH inspectors. The public is not happy that we are directing staff to meet guidelines when they are not regulations. Could you provide the information requested by Jutta to verify these requirements? Please reply to all. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Anne

Hello Anne, Since our group is putting the final touches on a short slide-show about the city's wading pools, I would like to follow up on the PFR Aquatics wading pool draining procedures from this past summer. The public health inspector (Mr.Zambrowicz) who visited the wading pools in the summer said that no one can be in a wading pool while it's draining because of the dangerous suction that could be life-threatening. After this, children were often kept out of wading pools for an extra hour (draining and refilling, then re-chlorination), in addition to being barred during the partial chlorine-replacement drainings.

For those wading pools that have an anti-siphon drain cover, would you be able to state the rationale for barring the use of wading pools during the draining times?

I already made this inquiry of the public health inspector and the aquatics supervisor, but got no response on the subject. Please let me know if I ought to be going through FOI.

Thank you

Jutta

Hi Jutta,

As this was a direction from Toronto Public Health, I would suggest you follow-up with them. I have copied the Manager of this area, Mahesh Patel for his awareness of your question.

Take care,
Anne

Dear Mr.Patel,
Since I copied you on my previous email to the PFR aquatics manager, you will already be aware of my question. Ms.Jackson suggested that I follow up with Public Health directly. Had you perhaps already intended to respond to my last email?

I'll repeat the bottom part of my letter, this time directly to you:

For those wading pools that have anti-siphon drain covers, would you be able to state the rationale for barring the use of wading pools during the draining times?

I already made this inquiry of the public health inspector and the aquatics supervisor, but got no response on the subject. Please let me know if I ought to be going through FOI.

If you would like a review of the wading pool drains literature, here is what we have collected so far: http://publiccommons.ca/library/folders/7446. We note that a lawsuit against the Sta-Rite pump company contains this information:

Importantly, and presumably known to Sta-Rite, there were, at all times material herein, safe suction outlet cover designs being produced in the industry and disclosed in patent and product literature that would prevent detachment and removal of the suction outlet cover which would have prevented entrapment and evisceration.

(1) the wading pools in Ward 18 and many other areas have these secure anti-siphon covers and (2) there are no suction pumps used in Toronto Parks wading pools. Could you let me know what, then, is the basis for the prohibition against children being in the wading pools during the many times a day when Public Health now requires partial or complete draining?

Thank you

Jutta Mason