Cool Pools: Caribe Resort

A swimmer at water park. Inspectors check levels of chlorine and other chemicals at pools and water parks to prevent the spread of illness. (Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

(Brian Kelly|bkelly@al.com)

Jefferson County has about 600 pools, but not all of them are safe for swimming. Inspection reports from the Jefferson County Department of Health contain several pools that failed their latest checkup - including twelve listed below.

Poorly maintained pools can harbor germs that can cause gastrointestinal illness, skin and ear infections and even neurological problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common germs include Cryptosporidium, E. coli and norovirus.

The health department doesn't award passing or failing grades, but inspectors can close pools for any infraction related to chemical levels, broken gates, cloudy or discolored water, broken pumps, filters, disinfectant feeders and other hazards.

Park at Carlyle

Lake Crest Swim and Tennis

Rhodes Villa Apartments

Hampton Inn & Suites in Hoover

Lakeview Garden Homes

Riverchase Landing Apartments

Le Pointe Condominiums

Birchtree Swim & Racquet Club

Running Brook Condominiums

Southbury Condominiums

Smith Glen Community Pool

Camelot Condominiums

Swimming pools can get crowded in the summer time, and it could be more than just your neighbors swimming alongside you in the water. Cloudy water and algae could signal the growth of unhealthy germs in the water at your local pool.

"If proper water chemistry levels are too low the water is not sufficiently disinfected," wrote Jeff Swinney, program manager for the Jefferson County Department of Health. "If levels are too high, i.e. chlorine, bathers may experience skin and or eye irritation."

Cryptosporidium can exist even in pools that have been properly chlorinated, and can cause extended bouts of diarrhea. In 2010, health authorities investigated two possible outbreaks of Cryptosporidium linked to water parks in Jefferson and Cullman Counties.

Water chemistry isn't the only concern for pool inspectors. Lack of lifesaving equipments such as a shepherd's crook or ring buoy can lead to a failing grade. So can broken gates or faulty latches. It is not uncommon for unaccompanied children to drown in apartment pools that aren't adequately secured.

The inspection system can lead to significant corrections. In April, inspectors found numerous problems at the HealthSouth Lakeshore Rehab Hospital. The pool had broken lighting, debris on the floor, problems with chemical levels and no records of pool maintenance - which led to a score of 82. Employees corrected most of the problems, and in an inspection on May 12, the pool earned a score of 91.

To prevent pool-related illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all swimmers shower before entering the water, to remove sweat and other body fluids that can reduce the potency of the chlorine in the water.

Swimmers should look for clean - and safe - swim conditions when they are going to the pool this summer. That means minding not just the color of the water, but looking for safety equipment, ladders and light.

"Safety violations and problems with cleanliness are equally concerning as these conditions can cause injury to the public," Swinney wrote.