AG Closes Speed Slides at NH Water Park

As if it wasn’t hot enough outside, it’s going to be a little hotter for people in the eastern part of the state attempting to stay cool and have fun.

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has announced that it has received a temporary restraining order against Liquid Planet, LLC, on Aug. 3, requiring the immediate closure of the Speed Slides attraction at the Candia water park.

Liquid Planet, according to a press statement, is required to receive design approvals from the Department of Environmental Services (“DES”) and demonstrate “compliance with applicable water quality standards” after the company allegedly “refused to voluntarily close the Speed Slides following notice from DES personnel that water samples taken from the Speed Slides had unsanitary levels of coliform bacteria, including Escherichia coli, that are indicators of possible fecal contamination.”

The NH AG then sought an injunction against the company in Rockingham County District Court and received it, according to a press statement.

In addition, the DES determined that Liquid Planet had opened its Speed Slides, two 40-foot vertical drop slides, without first obtaining design approval for the structure and without functioning filtration or disinfection systems to maintain compliance with required water quality standards.

Water samples for the remaining attractions at Liquid Planet were within normal standards.

Following the court’s order, Liquid Planet closed the Speed Slides and has begun working with DES to address the design deficiencies and come into compliance with public bathing facility standards.

State law requires that all public bathing facilities, including commercial recreational water slides, be approved by DES prior to public use in order to ensure adequate sanitation and to protect public health and safety, according to the NH AG. RSA 485-A:26. DES rules establish rigorous design standards and require ongoing monitoring and conformance with established water quality standards for public bathing facilities.

More information, including a link to the applicable rules, can be found on the DES website at: http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/pools/.