Parks Department Takes Steps to Battle Crypto

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation has taken several steps to guard against a repeat of last summer's outbreak of the water-borne illness Cryptosporidiosis. Those steps include spending $1 million from the county's Capitol Improvements fund to purchase and install UV filtration systems in all of the county's 18 swimming pools.

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation spokesperson Martin Jensen says 100% of pool water passes through the filtration systems and the UV rays kill the parasite.

In addition to extra signage at the pools urging patrons to shower before entering the water, Jensen says the county has incorporated Crypto education into its swimming lessons.

State health departments recorded nearly two thousand cases of Crypto statewide last summer, which led to preventative measures including hyper-chlorination of pools and banning kids under five years old from swimming. There had been an average of only 30 cases per year during the seven years previous. The Utah Department of Health is expected to release new public pool regulations for 2008 sometime in the next few days.

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