AIBU to worry about the cleanliness of a public park paddling pool

[greeningthedesert]

In the lovely weather today I took our youngest, 4 years old, to the swings. And forgot that there was a public paddling pool. She really really wanted to go in, understandably. But the water was not chlorinated and I know it just sits there day after day with scores of kids playing and peeing, algae growing, mosquito larvae etc. I'm not a massively fussy mum with hyper-hygiene standards and rationally I tell myself that if the pool was a health hazard they wouldn't fill it year after year (40 years ago my own mother wouldn't let me play in the same pool). But I just can't believe the water is truly safe, otherwise why would any public pool chlorinate or the instructions on the above ground home pools include daily chlorine?

[Wolfiefan]

Don't let your kid in it if they have open wounds.
Don't let them drink it.
Wash hands and then bath at home.
It's water not liquid arsenic!

I blame your mother for making you worry.

[mintpoppet]

We had a similar pool in my town when I was a child. My mum let me leap off sand dunes, swim in rivers, go and visit friends without knowing where I was every second but she would not let me anywhere near that paddling pool. I think it was wise really.

[Trills]

Safe for what?

Putting your feet in, yes.

Drinking, not advised but unlikely that anything very bad would happen either way.

[CalmYoBadSelf]

My DCs loved the local paddling pool and are both living, breathing, healthy adults

If children were adversely affected by these pools they would be closed down and I would guess they are regulated in some way by environmental health so I think your mother has made you unnecessarily nervous

[Redglitter]

My parents lived near each other as children. My dad lived in the 'poorer' bit and mum lived in the 'posh' bit

Dad spent many happy days playing in the paddling pool at the park. While mum was warned not to go near it cos that was where the dirty children played

Certainly did my dad no harm I guess it's all in your perspective

[MrsPigling]

we used to have one in our town until the travellers started bringing their horses there for a bath!

splash park now which has no standing water, much more fun for small people, but presumably not for horses....

[lessthanBeau]

beware of splash parks too, we have a beautiful water area in our park that has now been closed for 2 years due to problems with the filters and about 5 kids getting sick.
I don't think I'd be letting DD in a stagnant public pool, it must be filthy.

[urbinosparrot]

Very unhygienic if non-chlorinated. Children don't just paddle in paddling pools, there's probably a fair amount of urine, faecal matter and saliva in water that has been standing for God knows how long.

I wouldn't let my child in, any more than I would bath him in random strangers' bath water.

I used to love playing in the paddling pool in our local park in the sixties. I don't know who cleaned it or how often, it harboured all kinds of flora and fauna the rest of the year. Don't know what my mother was thinking of

[CaptainSwan]

Your worries have come from you Mother, don't pass them onto your children. The water is fine, going in a car will be more dangerous then paddling in a paddling pool for children.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

lessthanBeau a park at a compass point? If so I suspect you're in a similar location to me. Check the local paper website today for what's happened at another local park this week.

[Bogeyface]

Is it Markeaton Park by any chance?

I went there as a 2 year old, 40 years ago. My kids have been there too, many times over the years. It isnt stagnant, it isnt algi filled and we (and thousands of others) are still here to tell the tale!

[FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP]

I'm a bit surprised by this. All the paddling pools and splash zones in my area are chlorinated out of their mind. If yours aren't then you'd be OK to dabble your toes in but I wouldn't be happy to allow the sort of full on toddler splashy play that frequently ends up with a bit of water getting in mouths.

[CrystalMcPistol]

How many people's feet have rotted away and fallen off in the 40 years that paddling pool has been on the go?

The biggest danger would be the moss that can create a slippery surface to stand on. Otherwise, don't drink the water and you'll be fine!

[BoysiesBack]

Ooh, I came on this thread to say that YANBU, I would've been happy to use these pools until our local splash park was closed down 2 years ago after children getting ill. Yy to it being on a compass point too, Procrastinator.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

Boysies look up what's happened at Bude.

It's not Boysies though. It's Boyairs

:o

[BoysiesBack]

I saw that earlier, Pro. That was the pool I used to play in as a child as it was near my Dad's house.

[BoysiesBack]

There never seems to be anyone from round here on MN and now there's 2 on random paddling pool thread. Like buses, I tell ya

(Apologies for the hijack, OP)

[POPGoesTheBandit]

I was about to say about Bude. My auntie lives just across the road from there.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

Thread takeover!

[POPGoesTheBandit]

Haha! We was also at the other park mentioned last weekend. Bit gutted about the splash park being closed still.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

Apparently the problem with the splash park is to do with the land it's all built on being host to the bug, it will just keep reinfecting the water supply. So I'd read a year or so back anyway. Sad really, but there's not much the council can do.

I rarely go that end of the city. Too much of a trek and at this time of year it's utter chaos.

[POPGoesTheBandit]

We only went cause I was up there visiting family (I moved down south years ago.)

[MummaV]

our local one has a constant filter system where the water is removed, filtered and pumped back in on a constant basis. Its practically silent though so if I hadn't read about it on the council website I doubt I would have ever known and would be convinced it's just the same stagnating water. they also close it at night and put special tablets in it (I assume they are some kind of antibacterial thing).
So although they dont look like they are being cleaned I know our local ones have clean water and are regularly treated.

Maybe yours are the same.

[kathryng90]

We have several in my city. They are tested daily and the necessary chemicals added to make the water safe. And emptied and cleaned every week.