YMCA Abilene pool shutdown by health department after receiving 16 violations

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – The YMCA of Abilene’s pool has been shutdown by the health depart after receiving 16 violations.

Health department officials conducted a routine inspection at the pool at Redbud Park on S 32nd Street Tuesday, July 9, during which inspectors noted several safety issues.

Violations were recorded as follows:

1. Combined chlorine is greater than 0.4 ppm.
2. Free Chlorine/Bromine level tested using DPS method.
3. Reliable mans of testing for all chemical parameters required. *The YMCA’s testing regents were out of date and they could not test calcium hardness.
4. Suction entrapment avoidance. *The YMCA pool has no drain cover.
5. Safety signs for pools.
6. USCG ring bouy w/throwing rope and non-conductive reaching pole. *Inspectors noted the YMCA pool needs to of these ring bouys.
7. Emergency summoning device available.
8. Pump gages & flowmeter operating, and piping/direction of flow marked. *The YMCA pool has a broken flowmeter.
9. Lifeguards provided as required. *The YMCA only had one lifeguard present and called in a second after inspectors arrived.
10. Lifeguard mandatory in-service training as required. *No record of YMCA lifeguards receiving training.
11. Lifeguard access to First Aid Kit, backboard, AED, BVM. *The YMCA’s first aid kid is expired and missing components. The BVM are not in good condition and need to be replaced.
12. Enclosure gates, windows, doors supervised or closed and locked. *The chain link fence gate was open at the outside sitting area of the pool.
13. Gates/doors SC/SL, open out, latch 3.5′ above deck, no midrail.
14. Gates/doors not propped open.
15. Gate/door between indoor/outdoor pool self-closing and latching.
16. Operator certification provided.

In response, health inspectors said YMCA needs to take care of these issues before reopening the pool: “please install an emergency phone, provide more extensive lifeguard training, at all times of operation have a minimum of two lifeguards present, provide require trainings for the lifeguard (pre-season/in-service); provide lifeguards with whistles and other necessary equipment. Lock the gates by the garage door windows. Repair or replace the broken flow meters to be operational. Install required signage for the pool area.”

It’s currently unknown when the pool will reopen.

KTAB and KRBC have reached out to the YMCA for comment on the pool’s closure.

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