Pool E. Coli Scare Will Pay Dividends

It’s not easy to dispel a local urban legend, especially when the story turns out to be true.

Earlier this summer, kids in the Comstock Park neighborhood spread a troubling tale. “There’s E. coli in that pool,” they whispered.

Concerned parents called the city. There was only one way to calm everybody down, officials decided. They’d test the water at Comstock and reassure everyone that it was safe.

This was a good idea. There was only one hitch. The test results revealed that out of the six city pools, Comstock did indeed contain E. coli. Amazingly enough, the kids were right.

At least partially right. E. coli is a common bacterium that lives in the human digestive tract. Most strains are benign. It’s the toxic E. coli 0157:H7 that causes a severe illness with bloody diarrhea. Since nobody became ill, it’s doubtful that Comstock’s E. coli was of that strain.

Fortunately, the whole incident turned out to be simply a wake-up call. Now the city is working harder to maintain potent chlorine levels.

The incident should also alert parents. The signs on swimming pool walls are there for good reasons. A number of illnesses can be spread by grubby kids leaping, unwashed and unwiped, into local pools.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, swimmers should always take a hot, soapy shower - without a suit - before diving in.

Parents must resist the impulse to sneak a baby in diapers into public pools. Diapers should never be changed in or near a pool. Young children should make frequent visits to the bathroom to avoid accidents. They should learn never to swallow pool water. And anyone who has had diarrhea in the previous two weeks should stay out of the water.

By following CDC advice, parents can help wash this urban tale right down the drain.