Pleasant Grove Pool Closed Until Deemed Safe By Health Dept

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah – Veterans Memorial Pool will remain closed following an incident in which patrons suffered chlorine exposure.

At least 50 people reported getting sick from high levels of chlorine Tuesday night. The excess chlorine was due to a pump malfunction.

An investigation is now underway by the Utah County Health Department and the Pleasant Grove City.

Spoke w/ Pleasant Grove City Admin who calls yesterday’s pump malfunction at their pool an isolated incident and has a company looking at it this morning. They are hopeful the County Health Department will get there today as well. Pool is definitely closed all day. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/9EO4HlHTvV

— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaNews) June 5, 2019

“(The pool will reopen) when it’s safe, when we’ve determined that we’ve inspected thoroughly,” said Bryce Larsen, the environmental health director with the Utah County Health Department. “That’s our role as the Health Department, and we are going to be very thorough in our investigation.”

Crews are taking water samples at the pool, located at 582 S. 300 East, and a local pool company is looking into the mechanical side of why the pump failed.

Meanwhile, Wednesday morning swimmers who showed up for lessons were turned away.

Twenty-six people were taken to area hospitals Tuesday for conditions that included bloody noses, coughing, nausea, vomiting and some reported cases of loss of consciousness. Many of those affected were children. Approximately the same number of people sought medical care on their own.

Water samples are being taken after a pump malfunction details on #KSLTV at noon.. pic.twitter.com/DIlItE2MiD

— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) June 5, 2019

“If there were people affected by it, the city is insured,” said Pleasant Grove City Administrator Scott Darrington. “They can come in and file a claim with our city recorder, and then our insurance company will handle it from there.”

As of Wednesday at noon, American Fork Hospital was no longer treating any patients. They were all treated and either released or transferred to another hospital. One 12-year-old was brought in after 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night, but also treated and released. Two pediatric patients were transferred to Utah Valley Hospital where they are still receiving care, and the four others were taken to Utah Valley Hospital from the pool, where they were also treated and released. Patients were also taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital.

The Utah County Health Department will conduct another inspection to determine when the pool is safe to open.