Northview Pool will re-open as staffing allows following pool employees experiencing chlorine exposure Wednesday afternoon. Eight employees were transported to Via Christi Hospital with skin irritation and respiratory issues after an accidental release of excess chlorine into the pool during a heat break in which only lifeguards were in the pool. Two additional employees received walk-in treatment later. One employee remains hospitalized; all others were treated and released.
“The water at Northview is safe. Our trained staff responded immediately to make sure we had all the equipment operating correctly and to reduce the chlorine levels in the pool back down to normal,” said Eddie Eastes, Director of Manhattan Parks and Recreation. “The pool will re-open as staffing levels allow, and we will announce the opening to the public as soon as possible.”
CiCo and City Park pools are open.
After an investigation, a routine maintenance procedure on pump filters took longer than normal which contributed to the concentrated build-up of the chemicals. Chemical levels are monitored by an automated system and through City staff’s manual checks. Prior to the incident, City staff manually monitored the chemical levels at intervals consistent with industry standards. The automated monitoring is operating correctly, and City staff will perform additional manual monitoring to ensure a safe environment for Manhattan swimmers.
“We will continue to make sure we are providing a safe environment for our staff and our patrons at all of our pools,” Eastes said.
Swimming lessons originally scheduled for Thursday morning at Northview will take place Friday morning at the same scheduled times at City Park Pool. Scheduled rentals at Northview Pool will occur.