Swimming Pool and Splash Pad Health Crisis in DFW

It’s just another 110°F day in North Texas and your child wants to visit a local swimming pool or splash pad to play with friends and cool off from the relentless heat and humidity.

This sounds harmless and fun, right?

The data tells a different story. There may be unseen bacteria, viruses, and amoebas that are lurking in the crystal blue waters, which may cause your child to develop a waterborne illness.

Here are some recent DFW splash pad horror stories:

1. The City of Arlington closed all of its public swimming pools and splash pads on August 30, 2023 after a water sample from a splash pad at California Lane Park had a presumed positive test for the presence of brain-eating amoeba.
2. The City of Fate closes its city-operated splash pad after dozens of children report symptoms of vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.
3. The City of Arlington paid $250,000 to the parents of a child who died in September 2021 after contracting a brain-eating amoeba after visiting a city-operated splash pad.

** Read this 2020 article written by TexasPHS titled, #1 Worst Splash Pad in DFW

How can municipalities ensure that splash pads are safe:

1. Hiring, Training, and Development – there are simply not enough municipal employees properly trained and educated in pool, spa, and splash pad safety and sanitation. Cities must invest in talent.
2. Spend More Money – North Texas has some of the highest profile and richest cities in the entire state. There is no reason municipalities like Arlington, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Prosper (and so on) should not be hiring outside consultants, scientists, and testing labs to perform frequent inspections and water sampling.