WA Health Department releases guidance on faecal incidents in public swimming pools

The Western Australian Department of Health has released environmental health guidance on how to respond to 'faecal incidents' in public swimming pools in Western Australia.

The document, which can be viewed by clicking on the link below, states "all Operators of public swimming pools in Western Australia shall try to apply a risk management approach to the prevention of faecal incidents. Operators should endeavor to take such actions that will prevent incidents occurring, as far as practicable, to prevent the transmission of water borne diseases.

"Operators under these Regulations should become conversant with the procedures describing how to manage a faecal incident in a swimming pool or spa pool (and) should provide signage to educate patrons when it is not safe to use a public swimming pool to reduce the risk of contamination of a water body."

LIWA Aquatics President Jeff Fondacaro welcomed the guidance, stating "after several years of research the (guidance) document represents a risk management approach to dealing with faecal incidents in Western Australian aquatic facilities.

"LIWA Aquatics has worked closely with the Department of Health on (the) industrys behalf to develop a response which aims to prevent the transmission of water borne diseases in our facilities.

"To develop this document the working party sourced and reviewed containment policies and procedures from across the world. The inclusion of the most relevant of these procedures along with a great deal of local input will ensure that Western Australian aquatic facilities response in dealing with faecal contamination is consistent in its methodology and outcomes.

"This (guidance) has had wide consultation over the period of its development and marries a common sense approach and scientific rigor to the way it has been presented."

For more information contact Llew Withers, Manager Applied Environmental Health, WA Department of Health on 08 9388 4964.

Click here to view the document can be viewed on the LIWA Aquatics website.

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