Testing the Waters, Part III:

For almost two years, parents of Loudoun County swimmers have voiced concerns to officials at the Loudoun County Parks and Recreation and Community Services (PRCS), and have sent complaints to the Board of Supervisors about the poor air and water quality at the competition pool at Claude Moore Park Recreation Center.

In Part I of the series, the Loudoun Independent addressed the problems at Claude Moore Park and parents' specific complaints about their children's deteriorating health conditions. Part II of the series looked at test results from Healthy Buildings International, Inc. (HBI), a third party hired to assess and advise on the alleged problems, as well as internal emails with the PRCS staff. HBI found that during times of heavy use, the competition pool had excessive levels of chloramines in the water, which could lead to difficulty breathing. In the final installment, the Loudoun Independent examines the voice of the people, the responsibility of the local government and why checks and balances failed to take place, failed to address the problem and ultimately failed the people.

Parents addressed their concerns to Claude Moore staff, PRCS director Diane Ryburn, and to the Board of Supervisors, requesting a UV filtration system that could aid to remedy the issue. It remains unclear why funding in the original operations budget went unused and was eventually lost at the end of the fiscal year. Although efforts were made by members of the PRCS staff to address the issue, e-mails indicate a staff unsure of the existence of a problem, demonstrated by a lack of sympathy for worried parents and swimmers.

Even if parents were unsatisfied with Ryburn's response, it is evident she responded to virtually every e-mail. E-mails written to supervisors, however, appear to have remained unanswered.

The problems at Claude Moore fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, which consists of committee members Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac) and chaired by Stevens Miller (D-Dulles).

One set of parents e-mailed the Board of Supervisors and copied Ryburn on the e-mail:

Dear Supervisors,

We are writing to express our concern, as parents and residents of Loudoun County, regarding the water and air quality at the pool at Claude Moore. Our son swims at Claude Moore 4 days per week with the SNOW program. When he gets into the car after practice, he smells like chlorine (and I mean a strong chlorine smell). He also complains about trouble breathing at the pool area due to the lack of adequate ventilation and the high level of chlorine. None of this can be good for his body.

We have also used Ida Lee Park and they do not have the same issue.

We are writing to ask you to fund a UV filtration system for the pool. It is our understanding that the funding was available last year, but it was not purchased.

We appreciate your concerns and we hope that you consider the health of Loudoun County residents when considering our request.

Ryburn responded, thanking them for taking the time to write and letting them know the steps that had been taken to combat the air quality problems thus far. There is no evidence the Board of Supervisors responded to the parents.

“I would like you to make sure that Claude Moore stops poisoning the children of Loudoun County,” Maureen Newton, mother of a Loudoun County High School swimmer, wrote to Supervisors Burk and York. “I expect them to have the utmost respect for the health and welfare of every patron who enters Claude Moore. I would like them to install the UV filtration system. I would like them to learn to adjust the air and water temperature appropriately.”

Another e-mail from an assistant to Supervisor York indicated the lack of oversight:

Diane,

When you get a chance-will you give me a heads up about this. All the aides are wondering how to answer and are waiting to hear from you. However you reply, maybe you could do a reply all and that will just address it for us.

Thanks,

Robin (Bartok)

The Board of Supervisors met on March 17, 2009 to discuss the problems and complaints at Claude Moore. PRCS staff updated the board about testing done by the Health Department and HBI. PRCS identified the costs of a UV system and indicated the purchasing office is helping to determine the most efficient way to move forward.

With alleged short-term effects and potential long-term effects on our youngest residents, it is unclear why the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors did not conduct an independent investigation.

An e-mail to Ryburn from Bartok said:

Thanks as always for the thorough reply. I will pass it along. I am sure you are getting all the emails that we are.

Robin

PS What part of we have no money do they not understand?

If cost is the main concern, there are less expensive ways to treat excessive chloramines than a UV filtration system, which ranges between $20,000 to $80,000 to purchase and install.

Robert Burrows of SureWater Technologies told the Loudoun Independent about a system called “The Solution,” a vacuum induction bleach feed system he sells to pools who have small budgets and big problems. With SureWater, bleach is blended into the water thoroughly and uniformly at a high rate that is based on the facility's need and demand.

Burrows recommends the product for facilities that cannot afford the big price tag of a UV installation since “The Solution” costs approximately $3,500. By using this product, according to Burrows, the chances of needing a UV system are greatly minimized. “But if you can afford UV, go UV,” he said.

Pools in Montgomery County, Maryland now use “The Solution” in every facility, Burrows said.

While the reaction to problems at Claude Moore have varied, some local citizens have questioned why draw attention to a problem where the resolution has been identified and scheduled for implementation. A UV filtration system has been ordered. However, a review of documents related to the competition pool at Claude Moore still seems to indicate that some local officials remain unconvinced there is a problem with the pool.

The problem at Claude Moore is not a public relations issue-it is a health issue. Hopefully, we will see health issues addressed more quickly in the future.