Albufeira’s Municipal Swimming Pools will close temporarily from this Tuesday, 2 December, following the detection of legionella bacteria, the local authority announced today.
“Following laboratory reports issued on Sunday, 30 November, which detected positive results for legionella in samples taken from the hot water systems at the Albufeira Municipal Swimming Pool Complex, the municipality has decided to temporarily close the facility from tomorrow, 2 December,” the statement reads.
According to the council, all necessary safety procedures and treatments were carried out on Sunday, as soon as the risk was identified, by the company responsible for technical maintenance. These included cleaning operations and the shock disinfection of hot water systems and pipes.
New samples will be collected over the next 48 to 72 hours for a preliminary assessment. Further testing will then take place 10 to 15 days after the intervention to evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective measures adopted.
In the statement, Mayor Rui Cristina and Deputy Mayor Jorge Carmo, who is responsible for the Sports portfolio, stressed that the situation “is being coordinated and monitored in conjunction with Public Health authorities to ensure a swift resolution, allowing the Municipal Pool Complex to reopen once full safety for users can be guaranteed.”
Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia that typically begins with a dry cough, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and breathing difficulties.
The infection, which can be contracted through the inhalation of airborne droplets or by aspirating contaminated water, is serious but treatable. No spread of disease was announced by the authority.
Source: Sul Informação
