Cascade Falls Closes; Identified as a Possible Source of Crypto Contamination

Cascade Falls Aquatic Center in Ankeny has closed until Saturday, as the Polk County Health Department has identified it as a potential source of the parasite cryptosporidium. 

The City of Ankeny posted the following message on its Facebook page Wednesday:


"The City of Ankeny will not open Cascade Falls Aquatic Center today due to notification from the Polk County Health Department that the facility has been identified as a possible source for Cryptosporidium. 
More commonly known as Crypto, the waterborne parasite causes diarrhea, stomach cramping and vomiting that can last two to three weeks. 
The pool has not been confirmed to have Crypto, but is being sanitized as a precautionary measure to ensure that the safest and cleanest facility is being provided to our patrons. 

Cascade Falls is expected to re-open Saturday, August 17 and remain open weekends noon-8p.m. through September 2. Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center will be open today from noon-8 p.m. for its last day of the season.

To help prevent the future spread of Crypto, the City is asking people to stay out of the pool for two weeks after being sick, take showers before entering the water, use soap when washing hands and to not swallow any of the pool water.



The number of cryptosporidium cases in Polk County has continued to rise to over 170 cases since early July. 

Help prevent the spread of cryptosporidium with this advice from Polk County Health.