The City of Arlington has taken proactive measures to ensure public safety by temporarily closing all public splash pads and pools. This decision was prompted by a water sample collected from the California Lane Park splash pad that detected the potential presence of a rare brain-eating amoeba.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of anyone falling ill or requiring hospitalization due to this potential finding. It’s important to note that Arlington’s drinking water supply remains unaffected, and the water quality continues to adhere to the stringent safety guidelines set by state and federal authorities.
Parks and Recreation Director James Orloski emphasized the city’s unwavering commitment to safety and transparency. He mentioned that the community will be kept informed about the ongoing test results. He expressed confidence in the city’s advanced technology and industry-leading protocols, which play a vital role in monitoring and treating the water at aquatics facilities.
The amoeba in question, known as Naegleria fowleri, thrives in warm, freshwater environments like rivers, lakes, and hot springs, as well as in soil. Improperly maintained and chlorinated swimming pools or water parks, along with tap water, industrial waters, and water heaters, can also become breeding grounds for this amoeba. Notably, it doesn’t survive in ocean water.
Naegleria fowleri infects individuals through the nose, often occurring when people swim or immerse their heads underwater.
Arlington was among a select few cities collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a study about splash pad safety. Over July and August, water samples were collected from the California Lane Park splash pad and sent to an EPA laboratory for analysis as part of the study.
On August 29th, the EPA informed Arlington that a sample collected on August 17th from the splash pad had shown “presumed positive” indications of Naegleria fowleri amoeba presence based on initial lab observations. The EPA is currently engaged in additional testing to verify these preliminary findings.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the confirmation process might experience delays due to the impact of Hurricane Idalia on the lab in Gainesville, Florida.
Naegleria fowleri amoeba poses a rare yet potentially fatal threat to humans. This concern was tragically underscored in 2021 when a 3-year-old named Bakari Williams succumbed to a deadly amoeba infection after visiting Arlington’s Don Misenhimer splash pad.
The Williams family attorney, Stephen Stewart, expressed disappointment upon receiving the City of Arlington’s press release. He emphasized the importance of the city’s compliance with safety protocols and standards, particularly the Bakari Williams Protocol established in 2022. This protocol introduced additional measures for facility maintenance and upgraded chemical testing, controllers, and sanitation systems.
Following the EPA’s notification, Arlington reviewed its inspection records and verified that water chlorination levels at the California Lane Park splash pad consistently fell within acceptable ranges throughout the summer. Automated water chemistry controllers ensured proper monitoring, maintaining average chlorination levels of 3.5 parts per million during operating hours—more than triple the CDC’s recommended levels.
Furthermore, the City staff conducted manual water quality tests every 3 to 4 hours while the splash pad was in use, averaging four times a day.
The risk of Naegleria fowleri infection remains exceedingly low, with only 29 reported cases in the United States between 2013 and 2022, as per CDC data.
In 2022, Arlington introduced the Bakari Williams Protocol, resulting in substantial improvements to pools and splash pads worth almost $650,000. These enhancements involved mechanical upgrades to chemical testing, controllers, and secondary sanitation systems, surpassing minimum federal, state, and industry standards. Highlights of the protocol included:
- Automated water chemistry controllers equipped with advanced sensors to ensure safe water and automatically shut down splash pads if readings are out of range.
- Staff-conducted manual water quality tests three times daily, exceeding the state’s once-daily requirement.
- Chlorine levels maintained between 2.5 ppm and 5 ppm for all splash pads, exceeding the 1 ppm state minimum.
- Additional trained Certified Pool Operators on staff.
- QR codes on facility signs allowing visitors to access real-time water quality data via smartphones.
- Other improvements, such as reorganization, digital testing capabilities, enhanced secondary sanitation via UV systems, and real-time data sharing through an app.