060707en05007

	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

July 9, 2006

Hygiene

Tips to keep swimming pools clean

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department reminds swimmers that swimming-pool contamination will result in unwelcome pool closures, causing inconvenience to others. It is offering tips on how to keep swimming venues clean.

Senior Leisure Manager for Aquatic Venues Yolanda Tong said whenever human excrement or vomit are discovered, the affected pools must immediately close for clean-up and disinfection.

Kowloon Park Deputy Manager for Indoor Facilities Raymond Hau told news.gov.hk that pool staff will follow existing procedures to evacuate swimmers from the contaminated pool.

"They will first use nets to collect the excrement or vomit and then a disinfection process involving superchlorination will start, to clean the pool. The complicated process will take from 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the pool's size."

LCSD staff demonstrates how to clean a pool

Clean pool: Kowloon Park Deputy Manager for Indoor Facilities Raymond Hau explains how pool staff clean a contaminated swimming pool. Swimmer Tiffany Leung backs the department's clean-pool promotional drive.

Swimmers' responsibility

Mrs Tong said although pool staff remind pool users to keep pools clean, swimmers have a responsibility to avoid contaminating pool water by paying attention to their health condition before entering the pools.

"Parents of children under 12 should always remind them not to swim in pools if they are sick, and to not eat too much before swimming. When they feel unwell during swimming, they should leave the pools immediately and go to the washrooms."

Many swimmers back the department's recent clean-pool promotional drive. Queenie Leung, who always takes her two daughters to public pools, said it is the swimmers' responsibility to keep pools clean.

"When I was in California, I always used the swimming facilities there. I think Hong Kong aquatic facilities' standard is on par with those in the US.

Civic-minded attitudes

"I believe every parent should teach their children to protect the good environment of our pools. In the US, parents and children pay great attention to civic education and children are always taught to clean their bodies thoroughly before entering the pools."

She said people's irresponsible acts will cause unwelcome pool closures, wasting public resources. That is why she supports the department's move to step up its pool-hygiene publicity.

Tiffany, 12, echoed her mother's view. "Although throwing up and urination are human nature, it is wrong to do them in pools. All people, regardless of their age, should work together to keep our pools clean."

For more information on how to keep pools clean, click here.