Public swimming pools are a major source of potential premises liability. Children running as they play near the pool could fall and seriously injure themselves. People can also drown, especially if lifeguards are not on duty or do not properly monitor the pool.
Sanitation issues can also potentially lead to liability for the municipal authorities or businesses that operate pools open to the public. Swimmers could become very ill due to pathogen exposure in pools. Improper sanitation can provide the grounds for premises liability lawsuits.
Common contaminants in pools
Pools are usually safer than natural bodies of water, but only with proper maintenance. Most people understand that children frequently urinate in pools.
However, the use of chlorine and other chemical agents, as well as mechanical filtration, can prevent urine from accumulating in the pool or causing pathogen proliferation in the water. The failure to keep filtration systems operational and to regularly test the pool for chemical imbalances could lead to bacteria developing because of the presence of urine in the water.
Issues involving fecal contamination are even more serious. If someone has an accident in the pool, the bacteria that they introduce could cause a variety of illnesses if other people ingest that water or get it in their eyes. Animals, including birds that may have dangerous viruses, could also contaminate swimming pools in some cases.
The possibility of waterborne infections is well known. The failure to keep a pool in sanitary and safe condition could constitute negligence on the part of the pool owner, whether it’s a homeowner, hotel or municipality.
If someone can connect their or their children’s illnesses to an unsafe swimming pool, they may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. Holding pool owners responsible can lead to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages.