Health risks posed by unregulated Water Park Installations in NSW

Health risks posed by unregulated Water Park Installations in NSW

Okay who can help me identify a swimming pool?

So why the confusion? Awkwardly in NSW we have two Acts that have two definitions of what a swimming pool is. And guess what? The two definitions are different as they are approaching the issue of swimming pools from different angles

So what are the differences? The Swimming Pools Act 1992 is principally concerned about preventing young children from drowning The Public Health Act 2010 with respect to public swimming pools is principally concerned about the prevention of recreational waterborne illnesses (RWIs)

Swimming Pools Act 1992 swimming pool means an excavation, structure or vessel: (a) that is capable of being filled with water to a depth greater than 300 millimetres, and (b) that is solely or principally used, or that is designed, manufactured or adapted to be solely or principally used, for the purpose of swimming, wading, paddling or any other human aquatic activity, and includes a spa pool, but does not include a spa bath, anything that is situated within a bathroom or anything declared by the regulations not to be a swimming pool for the purposes of this Act

Public Health Act 2010 Definition of swimming pool includes any structure that is used or intended to be used for human bathing, swimming or diving, and includes a water slide or other recreational aquatic structure.

Public Health Act 2010 So really!! is something I can t swim in really a swimming pool???? I did not know that!

What is a Water Park? They are aquatic facilities where patrons become wetted from interaction and exposure to water spray/play ground features, including: slides, sprays, tippers, fountains, jets or other such features where the expelled water is drained, collected and treated for reuse back into the water spray/play ground. (WA Health 11/2011)

What are the risks from Water Park? During the wetted phase patrons can: Have their bodies immersed in the water Swallow the water Have the water enter their ears and eyes Inhale the very fine water droplets that can be produced by different water features So if the treated water is not safe RWIs can result

What are the implications under the Public Health Act? Water Parks 1. Need to be registered with the local council as public swimming pool 2. Must comply with prescribed operating requirements (schedule 1 of Regulation) 3. May be subject of Prohibition Order 4. Operators may be guilty of an offence for non compliance

There are two main types of Water Parks 1. Zero depth water spray park, splash pad or interactive fountain 2. < 300mm depth water spray park, splash pad or interactive fountain Either can be found either in public or private locations

How does a Water Park work? Essentially they are an upside down pool The pool is the balance tank underground They have filtration and disinfection systems similar to conventional pools The pipework that takes the water from the pool back to the filtration and disinfection systems is the above ground park water features.

Schematic of Water Park

Return drainage back to balance tank

c. 10kL Balance tank (aka swimming pool)

Supply lines to water features

Return lines from Balance Tank to pump house

Inside pump house (distribution lines to water features)

Sand Filter and pumps

Ozone Generator Ozone Generator

Automatic dosing system

Control panel

inished product

Spray Park (in operation)

Issues with Water Parks Water Parks (WP) in Australia range in size from <30m2 to >1000m2 Typically they have a much higher bather load per 1000 litres of pool water.(olympic pool c. 1.2 MgL, typical WP <20 kl) As such there is less water to buffer against changes in water quality parameters.

Issues with WSPs Young children are largely the target audience for Water Parks. Outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis are a potential problem. Cryptosporidium is chlorine resistant and is easily transmitted by infants who are not toilet trained.

Notification rate for cryptosporidiosis, Australia, 2008 Dept. of Health

Is there any reported cases of RWIs linked to Water Parks? Water parks can be a ready source of Recreational Waterborne Illnesses

Case studies There has been many reported outbreaks of RWIs linked to Water Parks in the US and Canada. The author has not been able to identify any documented cases of RWIs linked to Water Parks in Australia.

Case Study Georgia 1998 26 children laboratory confirmed with E. coli O157:H7 7 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) 1 death Common exposure: water park Chlorine level was less than 1.0 mg/l

Case Study California 2004 In August-September 2004, a cryptosporidiosis outbreak affected >250 persons who visited a California waterpark. 3 employees and 16 patrons admitted to going into water park while ill with diarrhoea.

Case Study New York 2005 3131 individuals were reported ill with cryptosporidiosis from a water park in New York. 394 confirmed cases Cryptosporidium was isolated in storage tanks supplying water to the water park.

Case Study Illinois 2006 On August 10, 2006, 41 persons positive for cryptosporidiosis after visiting a Water Park. Testing of the Water Park revealed water samples positive for C. parvum in balance tank.

So concerned about RWI outbreaks The US CDC is now recommending that the public buy chlorine and ph test strips at local pool shops and test the public pool water before using it.

So what conditions are present in WSPs in NSW? The following is a summary of water quality test results gathered this year at a number of publically & privately operated Water Parks in New South Wales.

Public WP (tested March 2014) Free Chlorine 0.19 mg/l Combined Chlorine - 0.02 mg/l Total Chlorine 0.21 mg/l ph 7.85 Alkalinity 10 mg/l Ozone Not used

Public WP (tested Sept. 2014) Free Chlorine 0.9 mg/l Combined Chlorine 1.3 mg/l Total Chlorine 2.20 mg/l ph 7.45 Alkalinity 25 mg/l Ozone 0.75 mg/l

Public WP (tested Oct 2014) Free Chlorine 4.60 mg/l Combined Chlorine 0.40mg/L Total Chlorine 5.00 mg/l ph 8.2 Alkalinity 110 mg/l Ozone not used

Private WP (tested Oct 2014) Free Chlorine 3.50 mg/l Combined Chlorine 0.30 mg/l Total Chlorine 3.80 mg/l ph 7.50 Alkalinity 25 mg/l Ozone 0.16 mg/l

Private WP (tested Oct 2014) Free Chlorine 9.40 mg/l Combined Chlorine 2.90mg/L Total Chlorine 12.30 mg/l ph 8.0 Alkalinity 115 mg/l Ozone not used

Where to from here?

Where to from here? Need to strengthen NSW legislation to make it legally clear that water parks and other interactive water features are swimming pools ( a special type) There must be recognition that WPs do not behave exactly like a traditional pool and need special consideration WPs in public locations in particular

Where to from here? The USCDC recommends that there be: 1. Mandatory pre-construction public health review of WP designs 2. Stringent operating procedures developed for each WP 3. Mandatory installation of supplemental disinfection systems.

Where to from here? The Public Health Agency of Canada notes As a preventive measure, it would be prudent for public health officials to consider inspection of WPs within their jurisdiction. Regulations for spray parks may be less comprehensive than those for swimming pools.

Where to from here? There is currently no guidance document available in NSW related to the installation, operation and maintenance of WPs. NSW Health should develop enforceable guidelines specifically related to WPs. UWS Hawkesbury is to look more closely at WPs through their Honours thesis program

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