Traces of legionella are found in the showers at Hythe Swimming Pool
15:16, 29 July 2020
updated: 12:33, 03 August 2020
Swimmers who used a public pool have been contacted after traces of legionella was found in the showers.
The potentially concerning bacteria was discovered on Monday (July 27) following routine tests at Hythe Swimming Pool, in South Road, Hythe - the same day it re-opened since before lockdown.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council say the legionella was found in the showers in the women's changing rooms.
The authority says the type found is common and 'very low risk' but that they have still contacted the people who used the facilities to let them know.
The showers are now closed while treatment is carried out, but the pool remains open.
Legionella is a type of bacterium found naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams.
It can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems, for example showerheads or hot tubs.
People can get Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever when they breathe in small droplets of water in the air that contain the bacteria
A spokesman for the district council said: "Like other swimming pools, Hythe Swimming Pool routinely tests for legionella in its water systems.
"On Monday we received a notification that traces of legionella had been found in the showers in the women’s changing room.
"The type of legionella found is common and is very low risk.
"However, we have contacted the small number of people who used the women’s changing room before the discovery to let them know.
"The showers were closed as soon as we received this news to allow the necessary treatment to be undertaken.
"Following treatment - and tests to confirm this has been effective - the showers at the pool will reopen.
"The pool is unaffected and remains open for swimming."
Treatment was carried out on Wednesday (July 29) and further test samples were taken on Friday (July 31).
It takes around two weeks to receive the test results, and the showers will remain shut until the outcome is known.
Hythe pool only re-opened to the public for the first time since March on Monday (July 27).
Many new rules were put into place to keep people safe amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
This includes visitors arriving swim ready, wearing masks in the reception area and lockers being out of bounds.
