Water World Contamination: 3 Poop-Related Illness Cases Reported

FEDERAL HEIGHTS, CO – Three people who visited the Water World amusement park June 11-13 have been diagnosed with parasites commonly found in recreational swimming-related illnesses, the Tri-County Health Department announced Friday.

Two visitors to Water World during that timeframe have been diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis (Crypto) and one person has been diagnosed with (giardiasis) Giardia, the health department said. It has not been established that the illnesses were caused by a water contamination event at the amusement park, the department said.

Untreated irrigation water from a nearby pond got into the amusement park's water supply during those three days, after a power outage and a broken valve. Untreated water might have affected drinking fountains, ice and food at all concession stands and may also include water in some of the swimming pools, the agency said.

The theme park, which bills itself as "America's Largest Water Park," closed the park for a day for a "sanitizing reset" with help of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

There is no current danger from water contamination, the health department said.

Crypto and Giardia are illnesses associated with recreational swimming when water has been contaminated by "poop," the health department said.

Crypto easily spreads through water and is hard to kill, even in properly chlorinated pools. The parasites live in the guts of infected people and animals and are passed through feces.

“Swallowing contaminated swimming water is one of the most common ways Crypto spreads,” said Nicole Comstock, who manages the enteric disease program for the department. ”We want people to know what they can do to minimize their risk of getting sick and spreading disease.”

According to the health department:

The illnesses can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Symptoms typically begin two days to four weeks (one week on average) after swallowing the parasite, and can come and go for a month or longer. People are contagious from the time symptoms start until at least two weeks after the symptoms go away.

The department offered the following tips to prevent recreational water illnesses:

○ Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea.
○ If you know or suspect you might have Crypto or Giardia, do not swim while you are sick with diarrhea and stay out of the pool for two weeks after the diarrhea is gone.
○ Shower before you get in the water.
○ Change diapers away from poolside.
○ Take kids on bathroom breaks every hour.
○ Don’t swallow water you swim in.
● Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom and changing diapers and before preparing and eating food.
● Stay home from work, school, day care and summer camp if you are sick.
● Avoid sexual activity if you are sick with diarrhea.
● If you are sick and your symptoms are not going away, check with your health care provider.

Water World posted the following message on their website the day the park was shut down for sanitizing:

Water World's Official Statement: June 14, 2018 12:30 pm We are hearing your understandable concerns about possible health effects (from a park visit June 11-June 13), the safety of our water, our decision to be open on Wednesday and to voluntarily close the park today.Before opening on Wednesday, and in consultation with the health department, we felt, and still do, that there were no water quality or safety issues in regards to our attraction water. As it is every day, our attraction water is tested and monitored throughout the day and meets or exceeds standards for water safety. The health department also did random testing on Wednesday and confirmed our attraction water chemistry. There are no indications that there are any contaminates in our attraction water. However, shortly before opening on Wednesday, based on our discussions with the health department, we decided to go ahead and keep our food service locations closed for the day to allow for further evaluation. Out of caution, no domestic water was provided for drinking. We did offer a very limited menu and complimentary bottled water for all guests.

The reason we voluntarily decided to close the park Thursday is that we want to make absolutely sure that we have addressed any and every possible issue. We are extra chlorinating all the water in the park, flushing out all drinking fountains and concession equipment and basically doing a sanitizing reset on the entire park. Safety of our guests has always has been our top priority. In our 39 years of providing water fun to the community, this is the first time we have ever had this type of issue at the park. We appreciate your confidence and thank those who have expressed as much to us.

If you visited Water World Colorado on June 11, 12 or 13 and experienced symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach issues after your visit, call the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-2700.

Related: Water World Contamination Threat: Theme Park Closes To Sanitize

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