Freeport pool closed after Health Dept. finds milky white water, no chlorine

FREEPORT — As soon as Mayor Mickey Marse heard that the Walton County Health Department closed the city’s swimming pool, he fired the YMCA of Florida’s Emerald Coast, which operated the facility.

The Health Department found numerous violations at the pool last week, including broken safety equipment, a broken water pump and failure to use proper chemicals. The investigator also found algae growing on the bottom of the pool.

“The Y people have been paid to care for that pool year-round and they did not do their job,” said Marse, who described the water as “milky white.”

Joe Casal, president and CEO of the YMCA of Florida’s Emerald Coast, said his organization was responsible for programs and safety at the pool, but that the county was responsible for mechanical issues.

“The pool has had and continues to have mechanical problems. Until those are fixed, anybody is going to have issues,” Casal said. “Poor circulation and leaks have been a challenge with keeping the (chemical) levels balanced.”

Sherry Seay, environmental supervisor with the county Health Department, said her agency began its investigation pool at the start of the summer. At that time, the department noticed violations and pointed them out, she said.

When an inspector returned Friday, the needed changes had not been made, Seay said. There was no chlorine in the pool, which could cause swimmers to contract diseases, specifically gastrointestinal diseases, she said.

Now, a sign is posted on the door of Freeport City Hall stating that the pool will be closed until further notice.

The YMCA remains under contract with Walton County, said Ken Little, the county’s public information officer. The County Commission is responsible for any alterations to the contract.

Little plans to meet with officials Monday to discuss the pool.

“We’ll get it all sorted out as quickly as we can,” he said.

The pool will be closed through the weekend and into next week while repairs are made,

After releasing the YMCA, Marse directed the Fire Department to bring the pool up to the Health Department’s standards.

The job included scrubbing the bottom of the pool. Freeport Fire Chief Ben Greenslait said it took the divers from the Fire Department nearly six hours to scrub. He added that there were a number of safety violations.

“We have a concern for our citizens that this pool must be fully operational with proper safety equipment, safety trained individuals and be a properly maintained pool,” Greenslait said.

He has contacted a pool maintenance company, which is waiting for parts to repair the pump “to 100 percent.”

Marse said the YMCA has been paid about $50,000 a year since the pool opened in 2006.

Casal said the Y has provided numerous aquatic programs over the years at the Freeport pool, with an overall emphasis on water safety.

He said water quality was checked “at least once a week” and that PH and chlorine levels were checked daily. A detailed analysis was conducted weekly.

Casal said the feeders that dispense chlorine into the pool are broken. He said his staff also had to follow certain guidelines that made proper maintenance a challenge.

“(The) county is responsible for the mechanical things,” he said. “The county was fully aware of all of this. (We were) working to do the best we can.”

Little said he didn’t know whether the county was responsible for the pool’s mechanical problems.

“I’d have to look at the contract,” he said.

Marse said the swimming pool reaches near its capacity, of 70 people every day it is open. He said after repairs are made, it will be on weekends through October.