Major sanitizer problems at a new spa in the Toronto area

[wayner]

On Oct 6 a new spa opened just outside of Toronto Thermea Spa in Whitby, ON. Within a few days many customers complained of a rash. It turns out that pseudomonas and staphylococcus (or staph) bacteria was found in the water at one of their outdoor pools. The spa is now facing a $5M lawsuit.

See stories: Guests suing Whitby, Ont. spa, seeking $5M in damages after contamination - Toronto | Globalnews.ca and https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/whitby-ontario-spa-audit-update-1.6639145

Here is what the spa has posted on their website. Does this make sense or is this BS?

At the conclusion of our audit, we found three factors that contributed to the bacteria
being found in the Källa pool.
One:
− The Källa pool’s primary disinfection system was a bromine erosion system,
which feeds the sanitization chemical into the pool. In Ontario, all pools
must be treated with either bromine or chlorine. Bromine was selected
because it was understood to be an effective chemical treatment in warmer
temperatures and less irritating to bathers than chlorine.
− Our standard operating procedure requires a manual test of each pool every
two hours. When we launched, all tests indicated that bromine was being
released at the appropriate levels.
− According to our audit, however, a valve on the bromine erosion system failed
sometime after launch. This impacted the amount of bromine being released
into the pool. We have not been able to determine yet if this was due to a
manufacturing defect, installation error or some other cause.
− As part of the initial solution, we replaced the valve on the bromine erosion
system and installed a redundant bromine system as an additional backup.

Two:
− The Källa pool also came with an ultraviolet disinfectant system, which
functions as a secondary safety measure, to destroy any bacteria that escapes
the bromine. Our audit found a ‘flow switch’ malfunction, which caused the
ultraviolet system to fall into maintenance mode and not serve its primary
function.
− As part of the solution, we proceeded to replace the flow switch on the
ultraviolet valve system.

Three:
− Further testing indicated that the highly concentrated solution of salt (14%)
in the Källa pool impacted the bromine puck’s ability to dissolve in the water,
therefore the bromine was not acting as a complete chemical barrier to the
bacteria, as we had been advised it would.
− All other pools at Thermëa spa village in Whitby (and across Canada) operate
with chlorine. Injection valves and chemicals for the other pools in Whitby
have been carefully examined and there are no irregularities

 

[mgtfp]

The main issue that I see is that these two statements

− Our standard operating procedure requires a manual test of each pool every
two hours. When we launched, all tests indicated that bromine was being
released at the appropriate levels.
− According to our audit, however, a valve on the bromine erosion system failed
sometime after launch. This impacted the amount of bromine being released
into the pool. We have not been able to determine yet if this was due to a
manufacturing defect, installation error or some other cause.

... are not lining up. Had they really followed through with the first, they should have picked up the second pretty quickly, and not in audit after the has hit the fan - or the pool in this case. Sounds like they tested once after launch.

No idea whether high salinity slows down bromine puck dissolution, but it sounds to me primarily like a distraction from the main issue: Lack of testing.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

The main issue that I see is that these two statements

− Our standard operating procedure requires a manual test of each pool every
two hours. When we launched, all tests indicated that bromine was being
released at the appropriate levels.
− According to our audit, however, a valve on the bromine erosion system failed
sometime after launch. This impacted the amount of bromine being released
into the pool. We have not been able to determine yet if this was due to a
manufacturing defect, installation error or some other cause.

... are not lining up. Had they really followed through with the first, they should have picked up the second pretty quickly, and not in audit after the has hit the fan - or the pool in this case. Sounds like they tested once after launch.

No idea whether high salinity slows down bromine puck dissolution, but it sounds to me primarily like a distraction from the main issue: Lack of testing.

Bingo!

And nope, salinity has nothing to do with it. The puck feeder failed in some way and no one was testing the water properly to pick up on it.

The question is - were they required to keep a written log?

In a lot of jurisdictions, a paper trail is required for a public commercial pool or spa. Literally someone has to write the test numbers into a log book and, in some cases, sign off on it. So if testing wasn’t being done and somebody was fudging the numbers, then there’s going to be a whole lot of billable hours for a personal injury attorney to be had …

 

[wayner]

Thanks for the responses - there already is a class action lawsuit being worked on.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Thanks for the responses - there already is a class action lawsuit being worked on.

Yeah, I’m sure every person that was there is going to try to jump on the gravy train …. bunch of whiny little sissies. Pseudomonas and staph are pretty common bacteria so unless these were really unhealthy people, the range of diseases caused were probably fairly mild and easily treatable. Claiming “hearing loss” is a bit of stretch. But, it matters very little in the end. The lawyers will get their huge cuts of the settlement pie and all the afflicted customers will get coupons for free poutine at the local Harvey’s …

 

[SJPoe]

The lawyers will get their huge cuts of the settlement pie and all the afflicted customers will get coupons for free poutine at the local Harvey’s …0

Woot ! Free Poutine !!
*Coupon non-transferrable. One coupon per household. Only redeemable when combined with a $35 purchase. Not redeemable on holidays, sale items, or during a month with the letter R in it. Not available in British Columbia because screw those guys. Supplies limited. In order to receive your $5.29 coupon for a free Poutine, please supply your name, address, Social Insurance Number, phone number, email address, age, gender, copy of government issued picture ID, complete medical history, details of any recreational drug use, name of all pets, details of all household members. iPhone or Android. allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. No cash value. Use of coupon constitutes waiving of all rights, past, present and future in regards to this, and any other settlement involving Toronto Thermea Spa, Gilt-e-Basterds-Payne&Suffrin Law firm, Harvey's, the State of Idaho Potato growers association or the Wisconsin Cheese producers collective. Check this box to not automatically opt-in to our sharing of your personal information to anyone we chose. To opt-out, check the box to not opt-in then send a stamped, self addressed envelope to the address listed on the back of the coupon. It may take 1-2 years for you to be removed from out list by which time we'll have sold your data to a hundred other people already so its no loss to us anyway.

 

[Newdude]

I have the battle every last time I enter a gas station or 7-11. No I don't want your rewards app...... the first thing it asks for is access to my contacts and media. What does that have to do with every 10th coffee is free ? Nothing is free sweetie.

*3 days later it's a new counter girl. Sigh.