Edmonton’s Borden Natural Swimming Pool, which opened in 2018, currently allows 980 swimmers in the pool, raising concern about contamination among microbiologists.
Per a report by CBC, public health researchers argue that allowing a large number of swimmers puts the fragile filtration system under unnecessary strain.
The $14.4-million pool filters the unheated water using plants, zooplankton, granite, and sunlight rather than conventional chlorine or salt.
The kids’ pool was recently closed due to unsafe levels of contamination. This is the second time Alberta Health Services has closed it due to unacceptable levels of contamination.
The city’s current limit exceeds what researchers deem necessary to keep the waters sufficiently clear of harmful bugs and bacteria.
It recommended that capacity be constrained to no more than 45 swimmers daily to maintain an “acceptable level of risk” to swimmers and daily testing for fecal contamination.
How does a natural pool even get OK’d when a chlorine residual is mandatory in commercial and semi-commercial pools in North America?
Could it be that the Green Mafia once again used their influence to get this boondoggle built (with all good-intentions, of course!) I’d like to say I’m staggered by such foolish short-sightedness but hey, it IS 2024…