Dirty swimming pools expose swimmers to diseases in Songea

She reckons that the water she swam in was unsafe because, although she had no such experiences before, her condition changed shortly afterwards. She had to exit the pool have her skin treated. She was in was in excruciating pain.

The reporters investigating for The Citizen have revealed that some pools are not properly treated and that the water remains unchanged for a duration of three to four years.

Generally, swimming pools have to be emptied within a stipulated period of time.

Removal of floating debris, scrubbing and application of chemicals is not done as regularly as it should be. The claim is that chemicals used are too  expensive.

Investigations by this writer revealed ominous behaviours that could be the itching and skin problems could be attributed to the swimmers peeing, spitting phlegm, and having sex in the pool, increasing the chances of polluting the pools.

Swimmers may therefore become susceptible to all manner of illnesses, including skin disorders, stomach colic, and water-borne infections like bilharzia, according to Dr. David Gululi, a skin disease expert at the Hindu Mandali Hospital.

He says that so much filth that remains in the contaminated swimming pool and could harm people the users of the pool. He attributed the resultant diseases to swimmers who dirty swimming pools, particularly those who wash in the pools after having.

To maintain a clean pool, there has to be a dirt draining systems and water must be chemically treated after use.

He suggested that there is a need for health experts to jointly work with the government in educating the society, especially to the swimmers, and certifying that the pools are safe.

 “There is a need for swimmers to satisfy themselves whether the pools are safe from pollution because some users spit, urinate, and defecate in them, including washing their faces,” he said.

He further urged health workers to conduct routine inspections of swimming pools to ensure that they have a mechanism in place for disposing contaminated water and that the necessary procedures followed to the letter. According to swimming pool specialist Mohamed Ally, nicknamed Dr Pool, chlorine treatment is typically necessary in swimming pools to rid it of bacteria and shield swimmers from contracting illness.

He added that to clean the water, it must be changed every 24 months and run through a filter.

He explains that some pools lack professionals to treat them against debris and other dirt until algae and other contaminants accumulate. He adds that the wrong PH of the pool water can cause irritations, causing swimmers to swim with their eyes open.

 According to him, even in cases where the water tuned green with algae, treatment with aluminium sulphate solves the problem by separating water for dirt.

Dana Elius, a swimming pool manager in Songea, says the swimming pool water is expensive because you will need to pay the technician, the services of bulldozer and even pay for other associated minor expenses.

So, Elius suggested that the swimming pools should be treated at least twice a month to stop them from developing foul smells or adversely affecting the users.

“I am not the owner of the swimming pool and I am not allowed to speak to the media, but I thought I should tell you about this; The water in this swimming pool has not been changed for two years, and I don’t think the owner has any intentions of replacing it, claiming it to be expensive,” she said.

Mr Victor Haule, a resident of Peramiho A in Songea Municipality also decried the poor state of a swimming pool, citing smelly water and general hygiene conditions.

 “I am disappointed by the owner of this swimming pool, which is dirty and has not been cleaned for a long time. Despite it earning money.  I ask the health authorities to pay regular visits to swimming pools to protect the health of the users,” said Mr Haule.

One of the owners of swimming pools in Ruvuma region, whose name is withheld, says that it is very expensive to run a swimming pool business. Chemicals to treat it are too expensive, such that income generated charged to swimmers for a week is inadequate to buy chemicals.”

 “The naked truth is there is no pool owner who can afford to replace water on a weekly basis. That is the reason we do so after two or three years. We treat pools using chlorine to ward off bad odour and using instructions from the experts,” he says.

He further says at least he tries to use requisite chemical chemicals and that makes his swimming pool safe and sound for swimmer. He says someone once complained of itch after swimming in his pool, but he arrested the situation. The Ruvuma Regional Health Officer Wilbrod Mvile says that the healthcare authorities conducts educates pool owners, who in turn educate the users.

He advises that the pool owner must have a toilet to ensure that swimmers have a shower and relieve themselves.

However, there have been healthcare officials at the district level so that stern legal action can be taken against those who do such acts.

“We also urge the owners of swimming pools to educate their customers about stopping to have sex in the pools because it is strictly prohibited.

“A swimming pool that allows such acts, will be closed immediately,” said Mr Mvile.