Water parks are a rapidly growing element of the United States tourist industry. To reduce incidence of abrasion and impact injuries in such parks, designers are searching for padding materials that can withstand the harsh oxidative environments of chlorinated water. Although padded features help reduce physical injuries, they may also compromise the microbiological safety of water attractions. This study describes bacteriological testing performed on 31 different pad materials, play features and pools from 10 Wisconsin water parks. Materials and surrounding pool waters were sampled and tested quantitatively for total coliforms, Escherichia coli, E. coli 0157:H7, enterococci, staphylococci, heterotrophic bacteria, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using standard methods. Each location was sampled during three visits, and results were averaged. Pool waters were within acceptable levels of target organisms and disinfectant residuals, but target organisms were found on water features, even those submerged in chlorinated water. Bacteria were detected more frequently in pools using pad materials compared with pools without. These findings provide data that will help the public health community understand the relations between designs, materials and maintenance of water features. Additionally, the information will help state regulators and owner/operators develop guidelines to improve public health and safety at water parks.
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Research Article|
May 01 2009
Bacteriological analysis of indoor and outdoor water parks in Wisconsin
Tracynda L. Davis;
1Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, PO Box 2659, Madison WI 53701, USA; National Swimming Pool Foundation, 4775 Granby Circle, Colorado Springs CO 80919, USA
Tel.: +1 719-540-9119 Fax: +1 719-540-2787; E-mail: [email protected]
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Jon H. Standridge;
Jon H. Standridge
2Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison WI 53718, USA
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Alan J. Degnan
Alan J. Degnan
2Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison WI 53718, USA
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J Water Health (2009) 7 (3): 452–463.
Article history
Received:
March 24 2008
Accepted:
October 11 2008
Citation
Tracynda L. Davis, Jon H. Standridge, Alan J. Degnan; Bacteriological analysis of indoor and outdoor water parks in Wisconsin. J Water Health 1 September 2009; 7 (3): 452–463. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2009.028
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