Pool safety a priority
Regular inspections monitor pH, equipment, safetyBy Patrick Cooley, pcooley@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
Fact Box
Local pool inspections:
Hervida 4-H Camp : Last inspected on May 23, no violations.
Betsy Mills Club: Last inspected on June 13, some safety equipment needed to be repaired.
Beverly-Waterford: Last inspected on July 1, no violations.
Comfort Inn: Last inspected on June 16, pH levels were too low.
Devola: Last inspected on July 3, no violations.
Econo Lodge: Last inspected on July 10, no lifeguard was on duty, some safety equipment needed to be replaced.
Hampton Inn: Last inspected on June 17, no violations.
Holiday Inn: Last inspected on June 17, no violations.
Lakeside Hotel: Last inspected July 19, daily records of chemical levels not found, flow meter was not working.
Landings Campground: Last inspected on June 4, no violations.
Lowell Village: Last inspected on July 9, no violations.
Marietta Aquatic Center: Last inspected on July 2, alkalinity was too low, no hot water in the restrooms.
Marietta Country Club: Last inspected on July 2, no violation.
Marietta Family YMCA: Last inspected on June 25, flow meter was not working, did not have record of the pool's alkalinity.
New Matamoras Municipal: Last inspected on June 2, no violations.
Putnam Place Apartments (only available to Putnam Place residents): Last inspected on July 9, was reopened after the pool had to be closed over the weekend when pH and alkalinity levels were found to be too low.
Devola Pool manager Karl Schmidt said his pool has hardly had any health department violations this summer, and that has to do with the people who use it.
"I'm on a first-name basis with almost everyone who comes in," Schmidt said. "It's a very family-oriented crowd; the people we get are mostly children and parents.
"That makes it easier, then if there is a problem because it's easier to talk to someone you know," he said.
So far this summer, the public pools in Marietta and Washington County have passed their inspections without any major problems.
"I've been very impressed with how the pools in the county have been kept up," said Josh Lane, a registered sanitarian with the Washington County Health Department.
Lane is one of two people who inspect pools for the health department. The department covers public pools at Beverly-Waterford, New Matamoras, Lowell and Devola, as well as pools at the Landings campground in Reno, the Lakeside Hotel in Beverly and Hervida 4-H Camp in Waterford.
Lane said the health department's goal is to inspect the pools at least every two weeks. They have been able to keep to that schedule this summer with very few exceptions.
"So far, all pools have been operating as we would expect them," he said. "Ninety percent of them had zero violations, and the few violations that we have found have been minor."
Such small problems include sand crystals getting stuck in the filters of sand-filter pools, Lane said.
Kelly Miller, a registered sanitarian with the Marietta City Health Department, said they inspect the pools within the city limits at least once a month. Four pools in Marietta are in hotels; the rest are at the Marietta Family YMCA, the Betsey Mills Club, the Marietta Country Club, Ewing School, Putnam Place apartments and the Marietta Aquatic Center.
"They all do really well," Miller said. "We test the water chemical levels, we check their safety items, make sure they have ring buoys, spine boards and a first aid kit."
Lane said inspectors also check the chlorine levels of all public pools, as well as their pH levels, to make sure they are not too basic or acidic.
"We really haven't had any chemical problems," Lane said. "All pools have been working the way they are supposed to in regard to chemical levels."
On many of the inspection reports from the city health department, the chemical levels of the pools are slightly off what they could be.
Miller said that if the levels are too far off, algae might start growing in the pool, although they've never seen that happen.
"Pools are required to test their chemical levels every four hours," Lane said. "All public pools are required to have a DTD test kit. The chemicals of a pool can change very quickly; you never know when you're running out of chlorine."
Mike Bishman, director of the YMCA, Belpre City and Marietta Aquatic Center pools, said an equation lets personnel know when chemicals need to be added to the pool.
"If the pH is too low, we can put in something called soda ash to bring the pH up," he said. "If it's too high, we can put in muranic acid to bring it down.
"We keep a pretty tight ship chemical-wise," Bishman said.
Bishman said there are three things that could be wrong if the flow meter is not working - there could be an air bubble in the meter that would need to be removed, the filters may need to be backwashed or the main valve might need to be moved a little higher.
In its most recent inspection, the pool at the Econo Lodge on Pike Street in Marietta did not have a lifeguard on duty.
A manager at the Econo Lodge said they have a sign which says there is no lifeguard on duty, but they had not posted it when they were last inspected.
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boo123
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07-23-08 10:43 AM
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What did I lose? Didn't realize a contest was going on. I never said Devola wasn't nice. I just think the word premier is a little overboard. Gosh I hope I at least win Mr Congeneality
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boo123
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07-23-08 10:42 AM
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What did I lose? Didn't realize a contest was going on. I never said Devola wasn't nice. I just think the word premier is a little overboard. Gosh I hope I at least win Mr Congeneality
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boo123
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07-23-08 10:40 AM
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What did I lose? Didn't realize a contest was going on. I never said Devola wasn't nice. I just think the word premier is a little overboard. Gosh I hope I at least win Mr Congeneality
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happygirl
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07-21-08 11:12 AM
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I have been to the country club as a visitor and it is very nice and clean also but is it affordable? I honestly don't know. Somehow I doubt it.
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Indian
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07-20-08 8:53 PM
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boo; you lose again. Get the facts. I did forget the CC but since I have never seen it, I cannot compare. The Aquatic Center is a water park, NOt a pool. That is why those of us in Marietta, who are notg EMCA members go to Devola.
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happygirl
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07-19-08 9:35 PM
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Devola pool is a very clean pool. My kids are in sight at all times and it's nice to know the pool manager on a first name basis. I drive a good little distance to go there. I am not a EMCA member. Cool picture for this article.
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boo123
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07-19-08 7:56 PM
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Tell that to the Marietta Aquatic Center and the Country Club..Yes members only but so is the Devola Pool..EMCA members only
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Indian
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07-19-08 12:19 PM
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Marietta has no pool. Williamstown, no pool, Lowell: cute, Beverly too far away to classify. Devola: nice pool, great surroundings, friendly, clean, paid for. Pretty special.
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boo123
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07-19-08 11:39 AM
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The premier pool? Please......give me a break
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Indian
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07-18-08 8:40 PM
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The Devola Pool is "THE" premier pool of the area. Mr. Schmidt deserves a pat on the back. Also a special thank you to the EMCA who has maintained the pool, park, and other activities since the early 1970's. A volunteer group doing a stellar job. Thank you. Devola residents should be proud and supportive.
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Wildcat
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07-18-08 1:40 PM
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No poopie in the poolie!! I wish they checked illegal immigration as often as they do pools.
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NasCarNut
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07-18-08 12:26 PM
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A manager at the Econo Lodge said they have a sign which says there is no lifeguard on duty, but they had not posted it when they were last inspected. why not?? it's just a sign that needs to be put up...duh..maybe a new manager is in need..
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