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City sanitarians keep water in pools safe for swimmers

Posted at 4:30 AM, Jul 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-28 06:33:25-04

CINCINNATI -- With the Cincinnati Music Festival in town this weekend, the city health department is doing its best to make sure visitors can safely enjoy the best of the Queen City in the summertime. 

That means checking up on every one its over 200 pools and spray grounds to make sure the water is safe, at the correct pH level and free from potential sickness-causing agents.

According to Antonio Young, director of environmental health at the Cincinnati Health Department, contaminated water could cause giardia, norovirus, shigella, E. coli and cryptosporidium, all of which could definitely ruin a weekend meant to be devoted to fun.

"The focus (of our inspections) is going to be just on this downtown area because the Cincinnati Music Festival is sold out, and this is where most of the patronage is going to stay," he said.

To take extra steps that protect you and your family from getting sick at a public pool, Young recommends you avoid swallowing any of the water and, if you have children, change diapers far from the water.