How safe are public pools?

When it's hot and steamy outside, the cool blue water in a public pool sure looks inviting, and jumping in can offer quick relief. But is that facility safe?

Most likely it is. The state keeps a pretty close watch on swimming spots.

The regulation of public swimming pools and bathing places falls under the auspices of the Florida Department of Health and is considered to be highly important in the prevention of diseases, sanitary nuisances and accidents.

"Our tolerance for water disinfection levels, chlorine levels must fall between 1 - 10 milligrams per liter of chlorine, and anything less than 1 milligram per liter is not sufficient to assure disinfection and neutralization of water-borne bacteria and pathogens," said Tom Higginbotham, environmental manager for the Highlands County Health Department, a division of the state health department.

That's why most owners or managers of public pools keep a close eye on the chemical levels or hire someone to do it for them, he said.

The health department inspects 156 bathing areas, including spas and public beaches, said Higginbotham.

There are 65 pools with more than 25,000 gallons of water, 50 with less than 25,000 gallons, 21 spas, one wading pool and one activity pool, he added. These include pools at schools, hotels, motels, private communities and trailer parks.

They may just be for the use of the residents, but they're considered public pools, Higginbotham said.

The department also inspects 15 public swimming areas on the county's lakes.

According to the department's Web site, "any modification resulting in the operation of (a public) pool in a manner unsanitary or dangerous to public health or safety shall subject the state operating permit to suspension or revocation.

"Failure to comply with any of the requirements of these rules shall constitute a public nuisance dangerous to health."

The department conducts its inspections twice a year, from Jan. 1 to July 1, and then through December, checking pool areas, pool safety equipment and equipment rooms, sanitary facilities and water quality.

Additional inspections were made after July 1 to the Aug. 3.

Pools are rated either "S" for satisfactory, "U" for unsatisfactory or "D" for closed for violations, and also, "I" for an incomplete inspection.

At the last inspection, most public pools in the county, including the three high school pools, had a satisfactory rating. Pools rated satisfactory were allowed minor violations such as a maintenance log error, improper placement of a life ring or a filtering problem.

A few had unsatisfactory ratings, but corrected the violations within a few days and were issued satisfactory ratings. These included (alphabetically):

Banyan Bay Club; Buttonwood Bay Mobile Home Park pool; Courtyards pool block 249; Fairway Villas II pool; Francis Mobile Estates pool; Highlands Ridge pool; Highlands Ridge pool Phase 8; Maplewood Villas pool; Maranatha Village spa; Matanzas Drive Owners Association; the Sebring YMCA competition pool and exercise pool; Whisper Lake Mobile Home Park spa; and Whispering Pines Village pool.

The YMCA pools had no chlorine detected on April 27 in either pool, a life hook was missing a bolt and the PH level was too high. All violations were corrected on April 29.

A few pools were closed, corrected the problems and were allowed to reopen with satisfactory ratings. These included (alphabetically):

Covered Bridge spa; Golf Village pool; Lake Glenada RV and Mobile Home Park pool; Las Palmas Resort; Oak Ridge Trailer Park pool; South Florida Community College pool; and Town and Country Mobile Home Park pool.

SFCC's pool had no pool hours posted, a 0 chlorine reading, a life ring did not have a rope, and the pH level was too low.

However, Lake Glenada's pool was listed again as unsatisfactory in a July 23 inspection, but these were not water quality issues.

Crystal Lake spa is closed for retrofit in accordance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - which requires all pools and spas in the United States to be retrofitted with main drain covers to prevent people from getting caught in direct drain suction. The pool was closed for resurfacing but is now open.

The Econo Lodge pool had been closed in late January for retrofit in accordance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, and is now reopened.

According to records provided by the state, a few locations had not yet corrected problems including:

•Adelaide Shores RV Resort pool, which closed on July 23, had 0 chlorine reading, a broken shower and a missing maintenance log.

•Granada Villas I pool, which on May 26 remained listed as unacceptable at re-inspection because of a fencing issue dispute. This is not a water quality issue.

•Highlands Apartments pool, which on June 21, was empty at the time of inspection.

•Hidden Creek Villas pool, which was rated unsatisfactory on June 3 but not due to a water quality issue.

•Orangewood Acres Homeowners Association - closed on July 23 - no chlorine, awaiting re-inspection.

•The Oaks Village - unsatisfactory, needed work - not completed - closed at the owner's prerogative.

•Tomoka Heights pool - unsatisfactory, low water level (better at last inspection), loose handrails, one of three life rings had rope, no authorization for night swimming - needed "No Night Swimming" warnings to be posted.