12 Aug 2016

Public spa pool closed after bacteria test result

8:26 pm on 12 August 2016

A spa pool at a Christchurch recreation centre has been closed after returning a positive test result for a potentially harmful bacteria.

residential swimming pool

Photo: 123RF

The spa pool at Jellie Park in Burnside closed yesterday afternoon after a water sample tested positive for Legionella bacterium.

Legionella, which grows in warm damp places, can cause the serious lung infection Legionnaires' disease.

Council head of recreation and sport John Filsell said the risk to the public was extremely low.

Mr Filsell said the pool was closed as soon as the test results were discovered.

He said staff were thoroughly decontaminating the spa pool and as a precaution, spa pools at other council recreation centres would be tested and super-chlorinated.