News: Pool closed due to contamination

The Tennant Creek swimming pool was closed yesterday at short notice due to contamination.

Posted: Wednesday, 6 January 2016

A Barkly Regional Council (BRC) spokesperson said this was necessary for proper disinfection, especially with a faecal incident, and protection of the health and safety of swimmers.
The pool has been closed three times since the school holidays began due to contamination.
When the water is contaminated staff must filter the system and super chlorinate the water to kill any germs. This process can take several hours.
As all sections of the pool are connected, the whole complex needs to be shut down.
“Pool closures allow chlorine to do its job — to kill germs and help prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs),” he said. “We apologise for the inconvenience but public safety is our first priority.
“Council wants to ensure that the water quality is of the highest standard and everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience at the Tennant Creek swimming pool.”
BRC would like to remind parents and guardians that any child who is not toilet trained needs to wear a waterproof nappy. These are available at the pool.
“We also advise parents to supervise their children in the change rooms, making sure the showers are turned off and any mess cleaned up,” said the spokesperson.