Pools pose holiday health threat to bathers

IRISH holiday-makers could be putting their health at risk by swimming in pools at some of Europe’s most popular resorts.

Tests carried out at 80 pools in Majorca and Corfu show that most of them are unfit to swim in and one in four poses a serious health hazard. The pools are used mostly by Irish and British holiday-makers.

Researchers from the Consumers Association in Britain carried out the survey for Holiday Which? magazine. They found that the water in many pools was heavily contaminated. Just two were given a clean bill of health.

The Consumers Association of Ireland said yesterday it would ensure that the results of the survey were brought to the attention of the European Commission.

The association’s chief executive, Dermot Jewell, said: “That 25% of pools surveyed in these two holiday centres were believed to be a health hazard clearly indicates the need for urgent regulation at an EU level.

“Considering the amount of time that family members will spend in or at the pool in areas such as Majorca or Corfu, water quality must be a priority.”

Kim Winter, managing editor of Holiday Which? magazine, said: “This is posing a serious health hazard to holiday-makers.”

The tests were carried out on pools in Alcudia and Puerto de Pollensa in Majorca and Sidari in Corfu.

Six pools were found to be heavily contaminated with faecal bacteria, possibly caused by babies or toddlers fouling the pool.

This would have put swimmers at risk of developing health problems including diarrhoea, sickness, stomach cramps and fever.

“None of our experts would have swum in any of the worst-rated pools,” said Mr Winter.

The survey found that chlorine levels were so high in seven pools that they risked bleaching bathing suits and causing irritation to the eyes and skin.

Five pools contained no traces of disinfectant at all, leaving bathers at risk of picking up infections from bacteria in the water.

A further 29 pools were found to be a potential risk to health.

Mr Winter said holiday-makers should be aware of the risks. “No definite scientific research exists linking levels of contamination with risks of illness.

“Our stomach-churning evidence of gross bacterial contamination shows the apparent incompetence of most hotels at maintaining effective levels of water disinfectant in their pools.”

Mr Winter called for new EU rules and inspections to monitor water quality in swimming pools, as currently happens for beaches.

Britain’s Federation of Tour Operators welcomed the survey. A spokesman said its members would support EU-wide inspections of public swimming pools.

“The key requirement is that of ensuring ongoing day-to-day compliance with swimming pool water quality standards and it would help if new EU-required inspection regimes were rapidly introduced.”