Pleasant Grove Pool Releases Statement About Chlorine Leak
Jun 11, 2019, 4:10 PM
Pleasant Grove Veterans Memorial Pool, 582 E. 300 South, is cleared after police say excess chlorine was pumped into the water, sickening nearly 50 people on Tuesday, June 4, 2019. (Photo: Aubrey Clark, KSL TV)
(Photo: Aubrey Clark, KSL TV)
PLEASANT GROVE, Utah – Pleasant Grove Recreation released a statement about a chlorine leak that sickened dozens last week.
“On Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. in a routine check of the chemical levels in the pool it was determined that chlorine levels were low which prompted an assistant pool manager to check the filter on the recirculating water pump. After checking the filter, the assistant manager noticed that the pump had been tripped due to an unknown cause. The assistant manager tried to restart the pump but was unsuccessful,” the statement read.
A maintenance supervisor was called in to restart the pump.
“During the time the water pump was off, a control panel that distributes chlorine into the pipe kept operating. This caused the chlorine to back up. When the pump was restarted, the water pushed the excess chlorine into the swimming pool area,” according to the statement.
When the chlorine took a gaseous form, it affected people in that section of the pool.
“Once the chlorine entered the swim area it took a gaseous form and affected numerous people in a section of the pool. Emergency services were called and seven different local EMS agencies responded. Those affected were evaluated at the scene. Those deemed more serious were transported to local hospitals. To our knowledge 26 people were transported,” the statement read.
“We have heard reports that everyone that has been affected has been released from the hospital. We are hopeful that those affected will be able to have a full recovery.”
Pleasant Grove City has since purchased, and is in the process of installing, a new control box for the distribution of the chlorine. The statement said the recreation department has worked closely with the Utah County Health Department to ensure that pool equipment continues to be in compliance with the State and County regulations. “They will inspect the pool once the new equipment has been installed to give us clearance to re-open the pool,” the statement read.
They anticipate the swimming pool will open for normal business on Thursday, June 13, 2019
