Cryptosporidium and Gardia
It seems these two nasty bugs are in the news a lot over the past few years. Unfortunately, all chlorine pools are susceptible to infestation of both Cryptosporidium and Gardia.
It seems these two nasty bugs are in the news a lot over the past few years. Although they are more prevalent in public pools, they can be found in any pool or spa. Unfortunately, all chlorine pools are susceptible to infestation of both crypto and gardia. Furthermore, the consequences are very unpleasant.
“Cryptosporidium is a protozoan organism which causes the parasitic infection, cryptosporidiosis. It exists in either the free-swimming (trophozoite) form or the oocyst (dormant) form. Cryptosporidium parvum is now recognized as a human pathogen which can cause severe diarrheal illness.
Members of the genus Cryptosporidium are placed taxonomically within the phylum Apicomplexa, order Eucoccidiorida, suborder Eimeriorina, and family Cryptosporidiidae. Species infect epithelial surfaces, especially those along the gut, and can be found in a wide range of vertebrates, including humans. Cryptosporidium parvum infects the small intestine of an unusually wide range of mammals, including humans (Tyzzer, 1912).” Water Research Center
Cryptosporidium and gardia are two of the leading causes of waterborne disease, or disease caused by contaminated drinking water or recreational water. Crypto has a tough outer shell that allows it to survive for a long time in the environment. It can survive for days even in properly chlorinated pools. Outbreaks of water-borne illness throughout the U.S. have been rising in recent years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cyptosporidiosis causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps, which could result in infected individuals becoming dehydrated. Furthermore, the CDC (Centers For Disease Control) suggests that one of the ways to protect your pool, and swimmers is the installation of a UV system. Ultraviolet light will disable cryptosporidium parvum and gardia.
As recently as August 2016, an outbreak of crypto in Ohio inflicted more than 100 swimmers. Local officials indicate there has been a significant rise in cases of cryptosporidiosis. Read more about hit here: http://www.livescience.com/55748-cryptosporidiosis-outbreak-ohio-pools.html.
The addition of UV pool system will eliminate the worry of these types of outbreaks. Furthermore, a UV system for your pool will eliminate the need for a high content of harmful chemicals, as well as the need to “shock” the pool on a consistent basis!
Therefore, a UV pool system not only makes your water safe from crypto and gardia, it will be "chemically safe" as well.
