“Following laboratory reports from Sunday, November 30, which detected positive results for ‘legionella’ in samples taken from the Albufeira Municipal Pool Complex’s hot sanitary waters, the Municipality has decided to temporarily close the sports facility starting tomorrow, December 2,” reads a note from the municipality published on social media.
The Municipality emphasizes that on Sunday, considering the risk classification, all necessary safety procedures and treatments were carried out by the maintenance company, including cleaning operations and shock disinfection of the systems and hot sanitary water lines.
Moreover, “new samples for a preliminary assessment” are being taken, and 10 to 15 days after the intervention, samples will be collected for an initial evaluation of the effectiveness of the corrective measures adopted.
The note mentions that the Mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, and Vice-President Jorge Carmo, responsible for the Sports Department, “have been monitoring the situation from the very first moment.”
The situation is being coordinated with Public Health authorities for a swift resolution, aiming for the complex “to reopen again after ensuring total safety for the health of users,” it adds.
The presence of ‘legionella’ has already prompted the Portuguese Swimming Federation to seek another location for the Youth Zonal Competition – South Zone, scheduled for December 6, 7, and 8, as stated in a note released on social media.
“The new location will be communicated as soon as possible, once all necessary safety and quality conditions for the event are met,” the entity states.
‘Legionella’ is a type of bacteria responsible for a respiratory disease known as Legionnaires’ disease, a kind of atypical pneumonia.
The infection is not transmitted from person to person or through ingesting water but through inhaling contaminated water droplets suspended in the air.
