NEARLY 600 swimming pools in Shanghai are equipped with a disinfectant system to better control chlorine levels and ensure the health of swimmers, the Shanghai Social Sports Management Center said.
Â
Pools introduced the system after reports surfaced of swimmers being poisoned by chlorine due to improper disinfection.
Â
A disinfectant system automatically adds chlorine to a pool to ensure it has the correct amount.
Â
Most of the city's large natatoriums already have such a system, but small and private pools often hire people to monitor the water and add chlorine manually, said Zhang Weimin, director of Shenjianqiang Swimming Club.
Â
Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, International Gymnastics Center and Shanghai Pudong Natatorium all said they have a disinfectant system.
Â
Several schools, like Gezhi High School, also have one, Zhang said.
Â
"Authorities may allocate funds for government-run swimming pools but we had to buy our own," Zhang said. "We spent nearly 60,000 yuan (US$9,768) to install the system and it costs 6,000 yuan every two months to replace the detector. That's too much."
Â
But he insisted the club follows very high hygiene standards. The pool's water quality is monitored every hour and sanitation inspectors conduct checks every month, Zhang said.
Â
On May 1, the State General Sports Administration listed swimming as a risky sport and required swimming pools to get an operation certificate.
Â
In order to receive the certificate, swimming pools will be examined by a team of inspectors. They will evaluate the pool for hygiene, as well as life-saving and firefighting equipment and file a report to higher authorities.
Â
If a swimming pool fails the examination, it will have to close until making the necessary changes to pass the inspection.
.jpg)
NEARLY 600 swimming pools in Shanghai are equipped with a disinfectant system to better control chlorine levels and ensure the health of swimmers, the Shanghai Social Sports Management Center said.
