chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.cdc.gov/model-aquatic-health-code/media/pdfs/fecal-incident-response-guidelines.pdf

The City of Asheboro, North Carolina, is offering a $ 500 reward for information leading to the identification of the person responsible for leaving feces in the city's Memorial Pool, an incident that forced the facility to close for a day.

According to local reports, the contamination was discovered June 13 at Memorial Pool. Investigators said the incident also involved discarded junk-food packaging and a pair of men's Tommy Hilfiger underwear left at the scene. Police are seeking information that could lead to the identification of the person responsible.

While the story has generated plenty of jokes online, pool operators know that a fecal contamination event can trigger a significant operational response involving pool closure, water treatment, staff time, documentation, and lost revenue.

One detail that has not been publicly disclosed is the nature of the contamination. Authorities have not said whether the incident involved formed stool, diarrhea, or another circumstance, nor have they detailed the remediation steps taken before the facility reopened.

A formed-stool incident and a diarrheal incident can require very different responses.

According to CDC guidance, formed-stool incidents are generally considered lower risk because most pathogens remain contained within the stool. Operators are advised to close the pool, remove the material without breaking it apart, verify proper filtration, and maintain free chlorine at 2 ppm with a pH of 7.5 or lower for approximately 25 minutes before reopening.

The primary concern in a formedstool incident is Giardia, a parasite that is readily controlled through normal disinfection procedures.

Diarrheal incidents are treated much differently because of Cryptosporidium, a chlorine-tolerant parasite responsible for numerous recreational-water illness outbreaks. Unlike many pathogens, Crypto can survive for extended periods in properly chlorinated water, requiring hyperchlorination and extended closure periods.

For pools without cyanuric acid, CDC guidance for treating diarrheal incidents calls for raising free chlorine to 20 ppm and maintaining that level with a pH of 7.5 or lower for 12 hours and 45 minutes. In pools containing cyanuric acid, treatment may require chlorine levels as high as 40 ppm and closure periods approaching 30 hours.

The CDC also recommends documenting every contamination event, including the time of discovery, whether the incident involved formed stool or diarrhea, chlorine levels, pH readings, and the corrective actions taken before reopening.

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance guidance mirrors many CDC recommendations, including immediate pool closure, physical removal of contamination, continuous circulation during treatment, proper disinfection, and recordkeeping. Industry guidance also advises against vacuuming fecal material into the filtration system, which can spread contamination.

Beyond chemical treatment, contamination incidents often require additional testing, documentation, staff labor, and communication with patrons or health officials before reopening.

What stands out about the Asheboro case is the reported oneday closure. Asheboro officials have not publicly explained why the facility remained closed for a full day or what specific remediation procedures were performed.

As of press time, no suspect had been publicly identified.