An outbreak of 'legionella' has led to the temporary closure of the municipal swimming pool complex and the changing rooms at the Olhão Municipal Stadium.
In a statement, Olhão City Council said that signs of the development of 'legionella' culture had been detected in those two areas, after monitoring the hot water system of municipal public sports facilities.
In conjunction with the Health Authority, the municipality decreed the closure of the entire swimming pool complex, “to make way for a more in-depth intervention, which may have to involve replacing the components of the hot water system”.
According to the municipality, the closure of the entire pool complex is because the procedures necessary to eradicate the bacteria have not yet had the desired effect.
With regard to the Municipal Stadium, “the results of the last counter-analysis carried out are awaited, which will dictate, if negative, the reopening of the changing rooms”.
On discovering the outbreak of 'legionella', the immediate temporary closure of the changing rooms of the two facilities was put put in place, to carry out the necessary procedures for its eradication. This will be done “namely through thermal and chemical shocks aimed at controlling the spread”, says the statement from the City Council.
“Despite the greater investment in financial and human resources and the maximum attention paid to this issue, the number of suspected occurrences and development of 'legionella' cultures in municipal facilities has increased”, says the municipality.
Despite the inconvenience that these closures cause to users, the municipality says it is “fundamental to eradicate the bacteria by all necessary means, to guarantee safe access for all residents”.
