HEALTH Services yesterday disclosed a list of 35 swimming pools in Cyprus found to have excessive levels of bacteria from water quality tests conducted between August 1 and September 9.
Tests undertaken earlier this summer by Politis newspaper found that in three public swimming pools in Nicosia there were levels of the staphylococcus bacteria up to four times higher than the acceptable levels.
After the newspaper published its June findings, Public Health Services then proceeded to conduct its own tests. The Health Ministry body found that out of 90 samples taken from public pools under the Health Ministry’s jurisdiction, 75 samples were suitable for swimming and 15 were not.
Upon receiving the results, acting head of Public Health Services George Giorgallas said that a “strictly worded letter” would be sent to the owner of the pools to inform them of the results and outline what measures needed to be taken to rectify the situation, after which a follow-up sample would be taken to ensure they complied.
Consumer organisations and House Health Committee deputies were quick to call for the prosecution of public swimming pools for failing the water quality checks, with some of them, including DIKO deputy Angelos Votsis, calling for the pools to be publicly named.
After a decision to shut down the Limassol municipal pool due to extremely high bacteria levels, the Health Ministry announced that it would name all pools that continued to have excessive bacterial levels from August 1 onward.
From August 1 until November 9, the government took 244 samples – testing for Total Bacteria Count, Staphylococcus, Coliforms and E-coli – from 225 swimming pools, out of which 35 were found with bacterial levels exceeding the legal limits.
Giorgallas told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the Health Minister had requested Health Services to intensify its testing, so it stepped up the process.
According to an official announcement, it was determined after follow-up samples that the majority of the 35 swimming pools took action and met the necessary criteria regarding their bacterial levels. But nine pools in Famagusta district did not conform to the law.
Giorgallas said that, due to the fact that the municipality is the relevant authority in this case, Health Services recommended local authorities to take court action against the pools.
The nine pools that may face legal action are Vrysi H/A, Evalena H/A, Alva H/A, Papantonia H/A, and Vangelis H/A – all of which are in Paralimni – and Green Bungalows, Christabelle H/A, Paviliana H/A, and Tsokkos H/A 2 – which are in Ayia Napa.
The disclosure of the 35 pools should please the Green Party, which the day before yesterday issued a statement noting it was “disappointed with the Health Minister Mr. Charalambous, who has promised transparency”.
“The summer has passed and still the results have not been published regarding the pools that broke the law (aside from those that have faced the courts),” the statement said.
The bacterial limits, determined by the Public Pools and Reservations Regulation of 1996, call for a Total Bacterial Count of less than 100 bacteria per 100mL of water, a Staphylococcus count of less than 10 per 100mL, a Coliform count of less than 5 per 100mL, and a zero count for E-coli bacteria.
The 26 pools found to have excessive bacterial levels from samples taken between August 1 and September 9 but that subsequently took measures to reduce their levels to the legal limits:
NICOSIA: Yiotas Swimming Pool (Lympia)
LIMASSOL: Forest Park Hotel (Platres), POED (Pissouri), Hill View (Amathounta), Lordos Panorama (Amathounta), Amathus A. (Amathounta), Anoyira Tavern (Anoyira)
LARNACA: Elysso H/Ap (Larnaca), Intercity H/Ap (Larnaca), Lisithea Hotel Ap. (Larnaca Beach, Dekelia), Stavros Hotel Apts (Larnaca Beach, Dekelia), Princess Hotel (Larnaca Beach, Dekelia), Lordos Apts. (Larnaca Beach, Dekelia), Kasapis Hotel (Larnaca Beach, Dekelia), Lenios Hotel (Larnaca Beach, Dekelia)
PAPHOS: Paradise Kings Club – both indoor and outdoor pools (Chlorakas), Ikaria Village, (Chlorakas), Bella Vista (Chlorakas), Melania A. (Chlorakas), Mantis and Athinodorou (Chlorakas), Mouses (Chlorakas), Agios Georgios Gardens (Chlorakas), Akteon (Chlorakas), Socrates Apts. (Neo Chorio), Natashia Complex (Prodromi).
The nine pools found to have excessive bacterial levels from samples taken between August 1 and September 9 that still remain above the legal limits. All 9 are in the Famagusta district. Legal limits include a Total Bacterial Count (TBC) of less than 100 bacteria per 100mL of water, a Staphylococcus count of less than 10 per 100mL, a Coliform count of less than 5 per 100mL, and a zero count for E-coli bacteria.
PARALIMNI:
Vrysia H/A Coliforms = 59
Evalena H/A Coliforms = 201, Staphyl. = 19
Alva H/A Coliforms = 29, TBC = >300, Staphyl. = 13
Papantonia H/A TBC = > 300, Staphyl. = 36
Vangelis H/A TBC = > 300
AYIA NAPA:
Green Bungalows Coliforms = > 200, TBC = > 300, Staphyl. = 100
Christabelle H/A TBC = > 300
Paviliana H/A TBC = > 300
Tsokkos H/A TBC = 113
