1a. Interactive Fountains
are wonderful and allow for wading and getting wet without actually swimming,
but can one get sick from these fountains?
Yes.
Interactive water fountains
are fountains with water sprays in areas accessible to the public where
interaction with the water is encouraged.
Several diarrheal disease
outbreaks have been associated with interactive water fountains. Anyone who
accidentally swallows fecally contaminated water can become ill. When people,
especially diaper-aged children, play in or soak themselves with the water
jets, they can contaminate the water. This may spread germs that can make
people sick.
Proper maintenance of these
fountains is absoluted needed and by a licensed professional to keep a safe
environment.
1b. Interactive Fountains
are sometimes technically cutting edge and when water is not distributed as
designed, either or both the electronic controller box and nozzel solenoids
need to be scrutinized. Should the fountain get to the stage of this type of
investigation, it may be time for a thorough cleaning and preventative
maintenance.
2a. Regular Fountains sometimes
allow for wading, and if not intented for wading but are very inviting and
commonly used for such should have a sign indicating wading is not allowed.
But can one get sick from
these fountains by wading in them? Yes
All fountains have the same
potential for diarrheal disease outbreaks when people wade in them. Anyone
who accidentally swallows fecally contaminated water can become ill. When
people, especially diaper-aged children, play in or soak themselves with the
water jets, they can contaminate the water. This may spread germs that can
make people sick.
Proper maintenance of these
fountains by a licensed professional is absoluted needed and to keep a safe
environment.
2b. Doesn't chlorine kill
all the germs placed in a fountain?
No.
Chlorine does not kill all
the germs in the water, but it does a good job of killing most of the germs.
However, a few germs can survive levels of chlorine for several hours to
days. Chlorine must be maintained at proper levels to kill most of the germs.
This requires a trained, tested and certified licensed professional to
properly add chemical in the correct amount as adding too much chemicals or
too little chemicals can put the public safety and health at undue risk.
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