Aquatic Facility – Contamination 
   Response Guidelines
   Contents
    Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
    Suspected Illness or Outbreak........................................................................................................2
   Contamination Events......................................................................................................................3
    Contamination Events in Water.......................................................................................................3
     Liquid Faecal Contamination.......................................................................................................3
     Solid Faecal Contamination.........................................................................................................3
     Vomit Contamination....................................................................................................................3
    Contamination Events on Floors and Surfaces...............................................................................3
   Responsibilities.................................................................................................................................4
    Operator Responsibilities................................................................................................................4
    Patron Responsibilities....................................................................................................................4
   Response Actions.............................................................................................................................5
    Response to Faecal or Vomit Contamination in Water Bodies.......................................................5
    Response to Contamination on Floors or Surfaces........................................................................6
    Alternative Response for Spas and Small Water Bodies with Independent Treatment Systems 
    (which can be Safely Emptied)........................................................................................................7
   Chlorine Response Tables...............................................................................................................8
   Appendices........................................................................................................................................9
    Appendix 1: Response to Faeces or Vomit Contamination in Water Bodies................................10
    Appendix 2: Response to Contamination of Floors or Surfaces...................................................11
    Appendix 3: Aquatic Facility – Contamination Event Report.........................................................12
   References.......................................................................................................................................14
   1
   Introduction 
   These guidelines apply to aquatic facilities in Western Australia as defined by the Health (Aquatic
   Facilities) Regulations 2007 (the Regulations). They are primarily designed to reduce the extent of
   contamination from the accidental release of faecal matter or vomit within an aquatic facility.
   However, the decontamination procedures outlined within this document can be applied to a range
   of other contamination events.
   Aquatic facility operators should apply a risk-based approach to manage contamination events to
   prevent the transmission of water borne diseases. The following, recommended responses are
   based on the likelihood of transmission and the associated severity of potential illness.
   Separate printable response flow charts and a reporting template for water body and floor/surface
   contamination events are included as appendices to this Guideline.
   Suspected Illness or Outbreak
   If the Department of Health suspects or confirms that an aquatic facility is linked with an illness or
   outbreak of illness (including Cryptosporidiosis), all potentially affected water bodies associated
   with the facility will require disinfection as per the liquid faecal event response. 
   Note: Any adjustments to water chemistry or treatment system must be conducted by or under the
   direction of the nominated, appropriately trained, technical operator. 
   2
   Contamination Events
   Contamination Events in Water
   The main source of water body contamination is from patrons, including bodily fluids and solids
   (e.g. blood, urine, nasal mucus, saliva, sweat, hair, skin and faecal matter), dirt on the feet/body,
   unclean bathing costumes, cosmetics, oils, hair products, lotions and sunscreen. Contaminants
   may also be introduced via water body make-up water, rainwater, run-off from the environment,
   birds or animals.  
   In a properly treated aquatic facility water body, most disease-causing organisms (pathogens)
   introduced through contamination are killed quickly.   However, some pathogens such as
   Cryptosporidium and Giardia and Norovirus (spread through faeces and/or vomit) can survive even
   in well maintained water bodies for extended periods of time. 
   Faecal and ‘major vomit contamination’ events pose the greatest health risk to swimmers and must
   be responded to appropriately.
      Liquid Faecal Contamination
      Liquid faeces is a spray an excretion of diarrhoea or similar watery form which is usually
      associated with gastrointestinal illness. Liquid faecal contamination of water bodies poses a
      high risk of transmission of pathogens. 
      The recommended disinfectant contact time for a liquid faecal contamination event is based
      on the risk of transmission of  Cryptosporidium,  a highly  infectious, microscopic parasite,
      which is known to be highly resistant to chlorine. 
      Solid Faecal Contamination
      Solid faeces may be one or many pieces of formed faecal matter that can be removed intact
      by a tool used for that purpose.  
      The recommended disinfectant contact time for a solid faecal contamination event is based
      on the risk of transmission of the infectious, diseases-causing organism, Giardia which is
      known to be moderately resistant to chlorine.  
      Vomit Contamination
      Most vomit contamination events in pools are a result of swallowing, inhaling or choking on
      water (‘minor vomit contamination event’) and are unlikely to spread illness. In these
      instances, remedial action may not be warranted. 
      However, a ‘major vomit contamination event’, in which the contents of the stomach enter
      the pool, may result in the transmission of illness caused by pathogens including noroviruses.
      The contact time needed to kill noroviruses is similar to Giardia.  As such a major vomit
      contamination event should be dealt with in the same manner as a solid faecal contamination
      event. 
   3
   Contamination Events on Floors and Surfaces
   Aquatic facility floors and surfaces (including water body surrounds, showers, changerooms etc)
   must be maintained in clean and sanitary condition. Faecal and major vomit contamination events
   on floors and surfaces should be responded to appropriately to avoid direct transmission of
   infectious disease and to avoid inadvertent transfer of contamination into the water. 
   4