The changing rooms of the Penha Municipal Pavilion in Faro have been closed due to a high risk of the presence of the bacterium Legionella pneumophila in the water pipeline.
Henrique Gomes, head of the mayor of Faro’s cabinet, has confirmed that “a little over a month ago, after routine water analyses, it was noticed that the Legionella values in one of the cold water circuits was over the limit. “
Due to this abnormal value, the municipality decided to close both the female and male changing rooms, having immediately notified the Public Health Authority. “The municipality of Faro analyses are used to regularly monitor the water quality of its public facilities and it is one of the municipalities that most controls these safety variables.”
“In the case of the Pavilion, for example, the legislation does not require this to happen on a regular basis, but the Faro City Council is keen to do so because this equipment is used by different audiences, with many children and the elderly, ” added Mr. Gomes
“After the closure of the changing rooms and realizing that the frequency of the rest of the spaces did not pose any health risk to the space users, a specialized company was hired which will handle the circuits by injecting chlorine into plumbing” he explained. The procedure should start in the coming days.
"As soon as the intervention is completed, we will carry out further analysis and reopen as soon as possible, predictably later this month or early next." Until then, "it is very important to emphasize that users do not risk any health when using the equipment that remains open," he says. The Penha Municipal Pavilion is used by approximately 500 people every day.
